THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The work on the first reach of the Kochi Metro was expected to be completed by April 2017, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the Assembly on Wednesday. He said that a meeting, chaired by the Union Urban Development Secretary, was held on October 18 to assess the progress of the project. The meeting asked Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to ensure the service of adequate number of technicians for the project since it had progressed to a fairly large extent.
The Chief Minister said that all civil works, including construction of Metro stations under the first reach of the project, would be completed by January next year. Instructions had been given to contractors to expedite their work to meet the deadline, he added.
Pinarayi said that DMRC had taken action against two contractors for the lapses in connection with the second reach of the project from Maharaja’s College to Pettah. Though there had been some delay due to the implementation of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, the process of acquiring land for the project had at present been hastened. KMRL would ensure facilities, including multi-level parking, at feasible sites.
The Chief Minster added that the repair of roads from Aluva to Maharaja’s College as per BM&BC standards was currently under way. Administrative sanction had been given for works to the tune of `39.41 crore for construction of ducts and drainage on roads from Edappally to Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. The Kochi Metro system had been designed keeping in mind the needs of the elderly and differently abled persons, he added. The Chief Minister said that the government was of the view that Income Tax concessions should be given for people who had surrendered their land for the project.