KOCHI: The Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report for the extension of the Kochi Metro to Kakkanad via Infopark is expected to be completed by the end of July. The Kerala Voluntary Health Services (KVHS), entrusted by the government for undertaking the SIA, has completed field visits and data collection, to assess the impact of land acquisition for the proposed extension.
The cost for extension is estimated at `2,557 crore and will have a total length of 11.2 km. There will be a total of 11 stations in the extension from JNI Stadium, including Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Signal, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Kunnumpuram, Kakkanad Junction, Kochi Special Economic Zone, Chittethukara, Rajagiri, InfoPark I and InfoPark II.
As per the initial assessment, the land acquisition for the second phase of extension is likely to affect 300 landowners and 400 commercial establishments, both small and large business ventures.The scrutiny of the data is progressing and the exact number of buildings that need to be demolished/rehabilitated and resettled will be drawn out soon.
Meanwhile, at a meeting convened by KVHS the other day with landowners and various other stakeholders, most of the members demanded clarity on various land acquisition issues.They asked for a clear picture on the rehabilitation package as per the new Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARRA). Citing the difficulties the landowners faced during the construction of Kochi Metro Rail’s first phase from Aluva to Palarivattom, the landowners also requested the authorities concerned to chalk out a proper plan before entering into the next stages of negotiation.
They demanded the landowners be provided with the market price at the time of acquisition. The merchants and businessmen who will lose their establishments should be relocated to the new Metro shopping complex planned by KMRL at Kakkanad or on the station premises.
They also demanded KMRL provide jobs to those losing their livelihood as part of the acquisition.The people’s representatives were equally apprehensive over the traffic arrangements and re-routing, when the construction is launched.
They said the work should be launched only after completing the renovation and widening of the parallel roads through which the traffic will be diverted.