With KMRL (Kochi Metro Rail Ltd) initiating studies on the possibility of extending the Kochi Metro Rail from Pettah to Tripunithura, the residents here have urged the authorities to immediately implement the proposed bus terminal project near the station.
According to them, a connection between Metro Rail, Tripunithura Railway Station and the bus terminal will help increase the economic viability of the metro project.
“If such a connectivity is implemented, people coming from the eastern side of the district and southern side of the state via train as well as bus can use the service of the Metro Rail. This will also expedite the developments in the area,” they said.
They said though the project was proposed couple of decades ago, the local body has failed to implement the project.
“The implementation of the project has become impossible owing to the delay in land acquisition procedures. About 12 acres of land must be acquired from private parties if the proposed station has to come up near the railway station. Now, the cost of land acquisition has escalated and the authorities are doing nothing to negotiate the land value with the people. No meeting has been done in this regard,” the residents added.
However, Tripunithura Municipal authorities have said that financial aid is required from the state government if the project has to be implemented before the extension of Metro Rail. “We know that the state government has no provision to set up a bus terminal for a local body. However, we will request some financial aid,” they said.
They added that there are other hurdles in implementing the proposed bus terminal. “We have to get the permission from Railway authorities to start the project as the proposed area is inside the 50 metres of the railway station,” they said. ENS