KOCHI: The external borrowings from various agencies for Kochi Metro Rail Limited should not become a burden to the State, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told KMRL officials in Kochi on Sunday. He was addressing officials at a review meeting of the Metro Rail project.
“The primary aim should be the completion of Metro rail project in a time bound manner. The implementing agencies should not divert their focus to Metro-related projects instead of the Metro Rail,” he added.
Meanwhile, the first phase of Kochi Metro Rail will be commissioned between Aluva and Maharaja’s College in 2017. Ending speculation that the first phase will extend only till Palarivattom from Aluva, Pinarayi gave clear instructions to KMRL that operations should start only after completing civil works till Maharaja’s. He also asked DMRC officials to ensure the works till Maharaja’s College are completed in first phase.
DMRC Principal Adviser E Sreedharan said the works till Palarivattom will be completed by March. However, majority of civic administrators said if Metro Rail were to be commissioned till Palarivattom, it will further increase traffic congestion as commuters, who alight at Palarivattom station will have to seek alternate ways to reach the city centre. He also asked officials concerned to speed up land acquisition for the project.
KMRL updated the CM on the Phase - II Extension of Metro from JNI stadium to Kakkanad as the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) had issued fresh guidelines and advised to further revise and resubmit the cost along with revised relevant chapters of the detailed project report (DPR), duly approved by the state government.
Based on the cost escalation during the construction period and the updated price level as on September 2016, the cost has been revised to `2,577.25 crore (including taxes and duties), with relevant changes in DPR.
Besides, the CM was updated on the integrated Water Transport system for Kochi. The project involves the procurement of 78 modern boats and construction of 38 jetties. It also envisages construction of 100 km of island roads and connectivity to other modes of transport. It was appraised that the general consultant will be on board by February and the actual work is expected to commence by June 2017.
Principal Secretary to CM Nalini Netto, KMRL MD Elias George, District Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla and other senior officials attended the meeting.