KOCHI (Metro Rail News): A nine-member delegation comprising French, German and European Union Ambassadors visited Kochi on Saturday. The delegation visited Kochi Metro Rail Limited’s Water Metro construction sites, the Operation Command and Control Centre at Muttom and also the Water Metro’s boats being built at the Cochin Shipyard.
The visit also celebrated the 5-years of Paris Climate Change Agreement. Adopted by consensus on 12th December 2015, the Paris Climate Change Agreement, was a historic event in the history of the United Nations. Emmanuel LENAIN Ambassador of France, Walter J. Lindner, Ambassador to India, Federal Republic of Germany, Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to India, Simon HORRENBERGER, Counsellor for Politics France, Hugo SERRAZ, Press & Media Relations Officer France, Bruno BOSLE, Country Director, AFD, Hans Christian Winkle, Head of Public Diplomacy, German Embassy, Karl Philipp Ehlerding, Deputy Consul General, German Consulate General Bengalur and Dr Christoph Kessler Country Director, KfW Development Bank visited KMRL.
The team also experienced the Non-motorised-Transport initiatives, the E-autos, bicycles and the E-bus, all introduced by KMRL to the city.
German Ambassador Walter J. Lindner expressed his happiness on the progress made by KMRL in the Water Metro project. “Even amidst the COVID and monsoon KMRL has managed quite a lot of progress. I can’t wait to come back in two months for the inauguration. KMRL is an excellent partner. We are glad that we are witnessing results.”
French Ambassador Emmanuel LENAIN lauded the Kochi Metro Rail project and termed it as a state of the art metro. “We are very proud that the project co-funded by AFD is very well interconnected, gender balance is maintained. We are very proud of developments.” he said.
Ambassador of the European Union H E Mr Ugo Astuto said, “In Kochi, we see an excellent example of Team Europe in action and of the EU-India partnership for the promotion of sustainable investments in Urban mobility. We look forward to further strengthening this partnership.”
“The visit of three ambassadors will strengthen the state government’s as well as KMRL’s relationships with these countries and the European Union. KMRL successfully completed the first phase of Kochi metro with partial funding from AFD. We are on the verge of commissioning the Water Metro Project which is being co-funded by KFW” said Alkesh Kumar Sharma IAS.
“We would be keenly looking forward to the support of AFD and KFW in new Metro projects, Hydrogen fuel cell buses, Bliss city and Non-Motorized Transport projects. We would also like to acknowledge the support of the European Union & other agencies in urban renewal, sustainability & resilience activities through programmes like CITIIS, Mobilise Your City (MYC) and GIZ-supported initiatives in Kochi”, Mr Sharma added.
The delegation visited Cochin Shipyard at 9:30 am and caught a glimpse of the ongoing construction of Water Metro’s Boat. The team then boarded the Pawan doot e-bus and reached Vyttila Metro Station where KMRL MD Alkesh Kumar Sharma IAS welcomed them.
KMRL team explained the work progress at Vyttila Water Metro station. The team cycled their way to Vyttila Metro station and boarded the train. The European delegation then visited Edappally Metro station to see improved junction and placemaking initiatives of KMRL. The delegation visited the OCC building at Muttom to understand the complete system of Kochi Metro Rail Project. The delegation also had discussions with the KMRL team on various initiatives and future projects of KMRL and other agencies for sustainability, emission cut and resilience in Kochi city.
The Team led by Alkesh Kumar Sharma Additional Chief Secretary and MD KMRL included S Suhas District Collector, Jafar Malik CEO Cochin Smart Mission Ltd and senior officials of Kochi Metro. Members of the delegation also planted saplings in Muttom complex.
