KOCHI (Metro Rail News): Kochi Metro project Phase-II from Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium (JNIS) Kaloor-Kakkanad, is still to get the Centre’s sanction.
The Centre should accord it all necessary clearance since the stretch is one of the most essential infrastructure requirements of the city including the nod from Public Investment Board, stated Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden during the zero hours in the Parliament on Tuesday.
He said the initial stretch of the metro among Aluva-Palarivattom and Palarivattom-Maharaja’s College was commissioned in 2017 where the 2nd line from Maharaja’s College to Vyttila was commissioned in 2019.
“It was after overcoming many hurdles that Kochi Metro became operational. However, the phase-II and related extension plans are lagging. Hibi declared where PIB cleared various metro rail projects in 2019, it ignored Kochi Metro,”.
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The 11.3 km long extension from the Kaloor stadium under the phase-II would have eleven stations including Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Signal, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Kunnumpuram, Kakkanad Junction, Cochin Special Economic Zone, Chittethukara, Rajagiri, Infopark-I and Infopark-II.
“According to the feasibility report, the stretch ensures a minimum ridership of 50,000 commuters every day. Further, the travel woes of people would also be solved to an extent. Woman commuters would also be profited,” said Hibi.