KOCHI: With barely a fortnight left for the commissioning of Kochi Metro’s Reach II between Palarivattom and Maharaja’s College, the final work on the stations are fast progressing. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the project’s implementing agency, had already instructed the contractors to complete the entire civil works before the inspection by the Commissioner for Railway Safety(CRS) scheduled to take place by the end of this month.
Orginally, the CRS was to have carried out the inspection on September 23, but this may now be deferred by a day or two. However, a KMRL officer said this was unlikely to hold up the commissioning of the stretch slated for October 3.“The work on installation of aluminum and glass shield on the Jawaharlal Nehru International(JNI) Stadium station is progressing. The glasses with a greenish tint will enhance the interior lighting. The work will get over by this week-end. The civil works at the remaining stations have also completed. The lifts, escalators and related amenities have already been installed. The ticketing counters too are ready. The finishing and cleaning works will be carried out in the last stage,” said the DMRC official spokesperson.
Further, the spokesperson said the designing of the interiors of the stations based on the selected themes will be carried out later. There will be five more stations after the extension of services to Maharaja’s College. Of these, the JNI Stadium station will showcase Kerala’s sporting heritage as the main theme, Kaloor will sport the Western Ghats-monsoon, waterfall and water bodies in its interiors, Lissie Junction will depict the dragonflies and butterflies of Western Ghats, MG Road station will have endangered species and mammals of Western Ghats and Maharaja’s College station’s main theme will be Ernakulam and its history.
The DMRC’s next target will be commissioning the project up to Thykkoodam within the next 18 months. “The work at Jose Jn has already been launched. The civil works on viaducts near South Railway station has also picked momentum. The preliminary work on construction of the Metro station at Kadavanthra has also taken off,’’ he spokesperson said.
On the work between Vyttila and Petta-Tripunithura, the officer said the delay in land acquisition was the major reason for the slow pace of work. The reconstruction of Chambakkara bridge and widening of the stretch is necessary for launching the civil works there. “The reconstruction of Chambakkara bridge has already been entrusted with Mary Matha Constructions. Though we have issued the necessary orders for commencing the work , the contractors have not been able to draw up an action plan owing to the delay in handing over the land,” according to the spokesperson.
Inspection by CRS
Orginally, the CRS was to have carried out the inspection on September 23, but this may now be deferred by a day or two.
Next step
The DMRC’s next target will be commissioning the project up to Thykkoodam within the next
18 months.