Procedures to identify a suitable land to rehabilitate families residing at the railway quarters at the Ernakulam Junction railway station premises in connection with Metro Rail work is in its final stage.
The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) along with the Railways had identified land near the eastern entry complex. Sources said that talks are on to solve the disputes regarding land acquisition in the area, with both SIDCO and KSEB laying claims on it.
According to the KMRL official spokesperson,18 flats will be constructed for railway employees. The land where the railway quarters is situated has been acquired for the construction of the metro station.
“Eighteen families will be evicted for the purpose in the initial stages. The Railway Officers Club will also be demolished for the construction of the station. Talks are on in this regard. We expect to acquire the land soon and commence the construction,” he said.
However, according to Railway officials, they are planning to evict the families within two weeks. “We plan to evict them before Onam to our railway quarters. The construction of the quarters by the KMRL is expected to take at least two years. Hence, we will be providing temporary facilities for the time being. They will be shifted to the railway quarters at Ernakulam North and Irumbanam. We have met the families and will hold the final talks in this regard next week. If they are not satisfied with the quarters there, we will approach the KMRL to find an alternative,” Ernakulam Railway Area Manager P L Ashok Kumar said. “Most children living at the railway quarters in the Ernakulam Junction premises go to schools closer to their homes. If the families are forced to rehabilitate to the North Station or Irumbanam, it may be a problem. So we have requested the KMRL to build the quarters near the Junction,” he said.
The state government has given sanction to take over 3.14 acres near Ernakulam Junction railway station.
Soil testing
Soma Constructions, the contractors for the the DMRC who has been awarded the work between Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to south railway station, has begun soil testing at various locations on the Ernakulam Junction Railway Station premises. “We have finished soil testing in one location near the railway track.
We are currently taking up the work in another area. A total of four areas on the South Railway Station Road will be subject to soil testing. Demolition of the railway quarters will begin at a later stage only, the officials said.