The people of Tripunithura are delighted over the official announcement ensuring the role of E Sreedharan as the principle advisor of Kochi Metro Rail Project. They expect that now there would be some positive move towards extending the Metro Rail from Petta to Tripunithura in the first phase itself.
According to Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents Association (TRURA) members they had earlier received an unofficial confirmation from E Sreedharan via e-mail that the extension will take place in the first phase. “With the help of Tripunithura municipality, we had earlier submitted a memorandum regarding the extension before Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Sreedharan. The Metro Man had promised that the extension would take place. Now, at a time when Sreedharan’s role has been confirmed by the Centre, we hope that the Metro Rail will be extended to Tripunithura in the first phase of the project. We will again submit a detailed report to him, including the benefits of the extension of the rail from Petta to Tripunithura,” they said.
Also, Tripunithura municipal chairman R Venugopal said that in the memorandum submitted we have specified why Petta is not a suitable terminal point for Metro rail.
“Petta, which has been decided as a terminal of Kochi Metro in the first phase, does not have the space to accommodate the required facilities such as a metro station-cum-commercial complex, parking area for commuters and loco service station. Also the area is thickly populated. Large-scale eviction would be needed to set up a Metro terminal,” he said. He suggested that if the Metro rail is extended 2 km eastwards to Tripunithura, near the yard of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) the space and other requirements could be met easily with the 10 acres of unused land available with SAIL.
“The area lies close to Tripunithura railway station and the proposed municipal bus terminal and is easily accessible from Seaport-Airport Road,” he said.
He pointed out Tripunithura’s proximity to other important destinations like Chottanikkara, the civil station at Kakkanad, the upcoming Smart City, and several industries. Moreover, the town is an entry point to Idukki and Kottayam districts,”
he said. The TRUA members are conducting a seminar on ‘Metro Rail Extension from Petta to Tripunithura’ on January 26.