The piling works for the first station of the Kochi Metro project began at Kaloor at 10.30 am on Monday. The station will come up near the private bus stand at Kaloor. According to DMRC officials, the station at Kaloor is prominent owing to its proximity to several commercial establishments, along with the connectivity factors.
“We see it as a potential hub as there is a constant flow of passenger movement on the route,” officials said.
A 120-m long barricade has been erected for the construction of the Metro station here. According to officials, the total length of the station will be 81 metres. In all, 42 piles will be put up along the stretch. The piles for the Metro station will be stronger than those built for the viaducts.
Soma Constructions will begin barricading work between Padma Junction and Abad Plaza in a week’s time.
Between Kaloor and the Ernakulam South railway station, Soma Constructions will set up five stations. The other stations will come up near Ernakulam Town hall, Madhava Pharmacy Junction, Maharaja’s College and Ernakulam Junction.
A total of 22 stations are being planned for the Metro rail project. The work on the stations is expected to be completed within two years.
Meanwhile, the work on the stretch from Ernakulam South to Pettah, which was entrusted to Era Constructions, has been affected because of the presence of water pipes on the Sahodaran Ayyappan road. The work along the stretch cannot be started unless the pipes are removed from the location.
The work along the Aluva-Edappally-Palarivattom stretch undertaken by L&T is going on in full swing.
Shifting of Bus Stops
The Traffic police are currently in the process of providing alternative bus stops in lieu of those which had to be removed for the barricading work of the Kochi Metro rail project which are scheduled to be taken up soon.
While the current bus stop at Lisie Junction has been identified opposite the Reserve Bank, the ones near MG road have been shifted to those locations where barricading has not been taken up.