The Kochi metro project has reached a significant stage with the district administration deciding to hand over the plots of seven stations to the DMRC through the Kochi Metro Rail Corporation within a week. District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth said discussions with the owners of the land were successful.
“We will pay 80 per cent of the total cost immediately. The rest of the amount will be paid after getting the required sanction from the state-level expert committee,” he said.
“Land required for Ambatukavu, Muttam, Cusat, Edappally Changampuzha park, Kaloor, Thaikoodam and Petta stations will be handed over to the DMRC. Barring Kaloor, the administration reached a consensus regarding the value of the land. At Kaloor, certain landowners demanded a high rate. We are conducting discussions. We have decided to invoke ‘Ponnumvila’ proceedings to acquire the land at Kaloor,” he said. He said 18 acres of land needed for Muttam yard will be handed over to the DMRC at the earliest. “The owners of the land have accepted to hand over the land rights to the district administration at the government fixed rate,” he said. The administration has fixed Rs 24 lakh per cent to the plot at Edappally Changampuzha station. In Tripunithura village, the rate will vary from Rs 16.5 lakh to Rs 21 lakh depending on the specifications of the plot. At Cusat station, the rate of plots varies from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 21 lakh. In Ambatukavu, it is Rs 17 lakh. The administration congratulated the owners who have decided to sell their land for metro project.