Metro rail: Top priority for land acquisition

With the Union Government giving the green signal for the Metro Rail Project, it is time for the state government to get set for the work ahead.

While the preparatory work for the Kochi Metro, including the renovation of the North rail overbridge (RoB) and the construction of the new RoB on Salim Rajan Road have been progressing, the immediate priority is land acquisition and road widening.

“Now that we have got the official sanction from the Centre, the state government will speed up the work on the Metro rail project. The Chief Minister will be back from Delhi on Wednesday and a meeting will be convened to discuss the further steps to be initiated. A timeline has to be prepared for the project. At present, land acquisition is the priority. The other infrastructure works will go on simultaneously,” said Excise Minister K Babu.

The road widening and land acquisition from the North RoB to the Madhava Pharmacy Junction and the stretch from MG Road to South are the works on the cards, said Mayor Tony Chammany.

 “The negotiation with the owners in connection with the road widening will be taken up immediately,” Chammany said.

Works Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju welcomed the Centre’s sanction and said that the project has been taken on a positive note by the members of his constituency.

 “There is a lot of enthusiasm about the project and there does not seem to be any signs of any resistance. The PWD has already expressed its support for the project. The PWD land in Kakkanad has already been given for the project. The department will continue its support for the project’s infrastructure development and land acquisition,” he said.

Hibi Eden MLA promised that all efforts would be made to complete the metro project in a time-bound manner and ensured the cooperation of the people.

He hailed the project as one that would revolutionise the transport system of the district.