KOCHI: The Kochi Metro Rail has notched up several positives. The Metro, which will be commissioned on Saturday, is the quickest and the longest first phase to be commissioned of the eight metro projects in the country. Also, to the credit of the DMRC, which undertook the civil works, no major casualties were recorded in any of the constructions sites in the past four years.
A metro warden lost his life in a case of a hit and run, but no other accidents or mishaps to workers were reported during the civil works. The DMRC officers say it is their strict adherence to the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) conditions that helped implement the project without any casualties.
“During the first phase, close to 10,000 workers were engaged in various jobs on the viaduct on a round-the-clock basis. We faced some big challenges, such as narrow roads and obscure underground utilities along the alignments, and public interface at the majority of the work sites. However, we succeeded in completing the work without any casualties to the workers through effective management of civil contracts along the 13.4 km stretch from Aluva to Palarivattom,” said the DMRC spokesperson.
“Our workers took a safety oath at the start of each work day and all high risk workmen were given a toolbox talk every day. We also provided exclusive training to our contractors and to drivers, including crane and hydra operators, on defensive driving. We had skill development training for works at height, crane safety, welding safety and electrical safety for all workmen and foremen,” said the spokesperson. Induction training was also given to all workers.
As per the guidelines of the DMRC, each contractor appointed an external agency to undertake a SHE audit every three months for the full term of the contract to make sure that all the safety conditions were properly met. A SHE committee meeting was also conducted once in every month.
On the right track
The Kochi Metro is the quickest and the longest first phase to be commissioned of the eight metro projects in the country
A metro warden lost his life in a case of a hit and run, but no other accidents or mishaps to workers were reported during the civil works
DMRC officers say it is their strict adherence to SHE conditions that helped implement the project without casualties
Traffic curbs in city today
Kochi: In view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kochi on Saturday, the police have imposed strict traffic regulations in various parts of the city. The police have also come out with a set of guidelines for the people taking part in various events attended by Prime Minister
Movement regulations
Movement of vehicles will be regulated at Naval Base, Thevara, Pallimukku, Jose Junction, BTH Junction, Subhash Park, Menaka, High Court Junction, Kacheripady, Kaloor and Palarivattom areas on Saturday. The curbs will be imposed from Saturday early morning. Parking of vehicles on both sides of the roads on these stretches has been restricted. Street vendors will not be allowed to do business on road side. The police have also erected barricades on both sides of the roads to prevent people from entering the road. Commuters are advised to avoid these stretches and travel through byroads.
Police directive to those attending PM’s programmes
People should not bring mobiles phones and other electronic devices to the programme venue. Even remote control keys of cars will not be permitted
Those attending the programmes will not be allowed to take bags and water bottles to the event venue
Participants should bring invitation letter and ID card with them
Those entering the venue will not be permitted to go out until function gets over