The government has given the nod for the proposed extension of the Kochi Metro Rail towards Infopark at Kakkanad at an estimated cost of Rs.2,017.46 crore.
The 11.2-km Phase-I B will be from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Kaloor to Infopark via Kakkanad.
The Cabinet that met on Wednesday gave the approval to the proposed extension up to Infopark at Kakkanad, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told presspersons here.
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The mass rapid transit system (MRTS) will stop at 11 stations — Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Kunnumpuram, Kakkanad Junction, Kochi SEZ, Chittethukara, Rajagiri, InfoPark I, and InfoPark II on the extended stretch.
The Chief Minister said the 18th meeting of the board of directors of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL) had approved the detailed project report for the extension of the metro system, and all formalities had been completed. The Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) had carried out the study.
The traffic projection on the extended stretch was 1.26 lakh by 2021 and 1.98 lakh in 2031. There was demand from the public for extending the Kochi metro to more places, the Chief Minister said.
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Phase 1 deadline
To a query, Mr. Chandy said 1,095 days was the deadline for completing the first phase of the Kochi metro for the 24 km from Aluva to Pettah. The DMRC was concentrating on completing the 18-km stretch from Aluva to Maharajah’s College. Phase 1 A was from Pettah to Tripunithura. The extended phase would also be completed in a timeframe, he said.
The alignment after take-off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium station goes towards the eastern side along M.K.K. Nair Road, Civil Lines road catering to Padivattom, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Kunnumpuram, metro city, and Kakkanad. Then it will run along the Seaport-Airport road up to Chittethukara and enter the Infopark premises.