The widening work on one side of the Banerjee Road, a major preparatory work for the Kochi Metro Rail, is expected to be completed by July-end. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials said the widening work on the stretch between St Antony’s School at Kacheripaddy to Madhava Pharmacy is gaining momentum. The widening work between Town Hall and Kacheripaddy will commence soon.
“We have started the work near the petrol pump. The work of the stretch from Town Hall to St Antony’s school was hindered when issues regarding demolition of buildings in the area cropped up. They have been settled and we will continue with the widening procedures,” DMRC officials said. Once the work on the left side is over, the DMRC will undertake the widening on the opposite side.
As per the plan, a total of 450 metres on the stretch between Ernakulam Town Hall and Madhava Pharmacy Junction will be widened by 22 metres. The viaducts of the proposed metro rail will be set up in the middle of the widened road.
“Since a portion of the area will be earmarked for constructing the pillars of the Kochi Metro rail, the DMRC is undertaking the road widening work in such a way that the flow of traffic will not be obstructed. The cost of the widening work in the area is estimated at Rs 9 crore, sans the cost of the land acquisition procedures. Once the work is completed on both sides, it will pave the way for four-lane traffic.
However, the road widening work from MG Road to Madhava Pharmacy Junction will be taken up only during the construction of the Metro rail “A lot of procedures need to be completed on the route, including shifting of the cables and land acquisition,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the DMRC has begun test piling at the Kalamassery-Aluva stretch. The test piling at Pathadipalam, near Edappally, has been completed. However, DMRC officials said the issues with the National Highway Authority of India on Metro railrelated work on the Edappally-Aluva stretch have slowed down the work.