Now that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been given the green signal to implement the project, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) will have to tackle three key challenges- land acquisition, funding and utility shifting.
The KMRL has already chalked out a plan to overcome the hurdles of land acquisition, which is always a stumbling block to any capital-intensive project.
“We are planning to launch a five-phased plan for acquiring land. The first part will focus on acquiring land for the yard at Muttam. A total of 22 hectares is needed for the maintenance yard. Preliminary notification as envisaged under section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act has already been issued for 15 acres and the remaining will be notified soon,” said KMRL managing director Elias George.
In the second phase, land will be acquired for seven Metro stations including Muttam, Ambattukavu, CUSAT, Changampuzha Park, Elamkulam, Thaikkoodam and Petta. The land for constructing via ducts at Aluva-Pulinchode, HMT and Madhava Pharamacy Junction will also be acquired in this phase.
The third part will focus on acquiring land for 13 metro stations and the acquisition of land along NH, Jose Junction and Madhava Pharmacy.
The KMRL also plans to launch a commercial project with a view to generate revenue to repay the loan that it will avail of for the Kochi Metro Rail. A commercially and environmentally-feasible project will be set up near the proposed Muttam yard.
A total of 117 hectares of land will be acquire at Muttam in the fourth phase of land acquisition for setting up Muttam Metro Village. Meanwhile, the corporate office of KMRL will be set up at 20 acres of land that will be acquired at Kakkanad.
The fifth part will focus on shifting the Railway quarters which KMRL will be acquired for the Metro Rail. Excluding the land requirement for Metro Village and corporate quarters, a total of 40.40 hectares of land will have to be acquired for the Kochi Metro Rail. For metro stations alone, 9.39 hectares is required. The total estimated cost for acquiring 40.40 hectares is estimated at `1,110 crore.