Centre’s Metro extension nod a perfect Onam gift for Kochiites

Kochi: It was a perfect Onam gift for the city when the Union Cabinet granted approval for Phase II of Kochi Metro line from JLN stadium to Kakkanad on Wednesday.
The much-awaited announcement has brought cheer to the IT, business and industrial communities, as the extension of the Metro service to the IT hub will give major impetus to the infrastructure development of the eastern region of the city.
There would be 11 stations — Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamukal, Kakkanad, Cochin Sez, Chitethukara, Kinfra, Infopark 1 and Infopark 2 — along the 11.2km long Phase II Metro corridor. A 22m wide road would also be constructed under the Metro line, as part of the project.
KMRL has completed around 50% of preparatory works on the land acquired for the proposed Metro line project.
Welcoming the Centre’s decision, Arjun Nair of Kochi Next Forum, who is also an IT employee of Infopark, said the Phase II would be a game changer as thousands of people are now struggling to access the Kakkanad region, especially Infopark from city, due to hours long traffic congestion on road. “The existing public transport facility is insufficient to cater to the needs of the route. Around 60,000 employees are now working with Infopark alone. So, Phase II corridor is as important as Phase I,” he said.
“Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) authorities should learn lessons from the mistakes during the Phase I implementation of the project and they should consider the suggestions of the public before finalizing the project,” said Rajesh Nair of Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
It is expected that KMRL will soon start the construction works on the new line. KMRL itself will directly implement the Kakkanad extension project as it has successfully implemented the Phase 1A extension of the Metro line from Petta to SN Junction, which was inaugurated on September 1. Petta-SN Junction line was the first stretch of Kochi Metro, the construction of which was directly taken up by KMRL.
KMRL authorities have already made it clear that the station designs for the Phase II extension will be completely different from the existing ones and they will invite fresh ideas regarding the station designs from commuters.
On completion, the combined Phase I and Phase II Metro network will link the major residential and commercial hubs in the city with major transit hubs such as railway stations and bus stands.