KOCHI: The Kochi Metro on Sunday celebrated the first anniversary of the launch of its commercial operations. Edappally station was selected as the celebration venue. K V Thomas MP, MLAs Hibi Eden, Anwar Sadath, M Swaraj, V K Ibrahimkunju, Mayor Soumini Jain, deputy mayor T J Vinodh, Kochi Corporation standing committee chairperson A B Sabu, district panchayat president Asha Sanil and Kalamassery municipal chairperson Jessy Peter, cut a huge cake. Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) managing director A P M Mohammed Hanesh and KMRL staff also attended the ceremony.
The inaugural meet was followed by a magic show by Gopinath Muthukad. The magician travelled with passengers and showcased special items. The suggestions and dreams that passengers shared with the magician were noted on a whiteboard at Edapally station, and this whiteboard was seen by the KMRL MD at Changampuzha Park station.
Later, Kudumabshree workers, working in ticketing and housekeeping, were honoured by KMRL. The special metro police team was also honoured. To mark the anniversary, services began an hour earlier. Special lucky draw coupons will be issued to Kochi metro passengers on Monday which they can drop at boxes in stations. All passengers will be given a free ride on Tuesday. It will be the ideal time to take a Kochi 1 card with KMRL and Axis bank jointly deciding to waive off the `150 issuance fee and the annual fee of `75 for the card till June 30.