The construction of the Rs-5,182 crore Kochi Metro Rail, one of the major capital intensive projects, envisaged in the state will begin on Friday. The piling work for the via ducts will begin near Changampuzha Park, Edappally, and the same will be displayed on the huge screen set up at the inaugural venue, the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will officially inaugurate the work at a function at 10.30 am. Nearly 4000 people, including prominent personalities from socio-political and cultural field, are expected to attend. The KMRL authorities have taken necessary measures to regulate traffic with no cause of apprehension over traffic congestion. The civil work includes construction of via ducts and stations, that will be carried out separately in four stretches. The work will be completed in a phased manner by taking up stretches of 200 m each. The KMRL will make sure that more traffic wardens are appointed in areas where there are chances of traffic congestion. Aluva, Pulinchodu, Companypady, Ambattukavu, Muttom, Kalamassery, Cochin University, Pathadipalam, Edappally, Changampuzha Park, Palarivattom, Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor, Lisie, MG Road, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam South, Kadavanthra, Elamkulam, Vyttila, Thykoodam and Petta are the 22 stations. The work will be carried out by dividing the 25-km stretch into four, Aluva to Kalamassery, Kalamassery to Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Stadium to Ernakulam South and Ernakulam South to Tripunithura Petta.
According to the KMRL, they have already made a provision of `8 crore in the contracts floated for making sure that the traffic is being diverted effectively. Accordingly, each stretch will get `2 crore each for traffic regulations.
