Land acquisition major issue
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Kochi: With Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath clearing the way for the Kochi Metro rail project, the major challenge before the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, the implementing agency for the project, is to complete land acquisition within the stipulated time-frame. Ensuring smooth flow of traffic thr-ough alternate routes and major junctions through which the Metro rail will pass is another hurdle.
A total of 40.40 hectares of land has to be acquired for the project. Approximately 1.7 hectares is required for widening narrow portions in the Aluva-Edapally stretch of NH 47. More land will have to be acquired for the proposed Metro village project near the maintenance yard at Muttom. The depot at Muttom meant for the maintenance and repairing of rolling stock would be set up on 23.605 hecta-res. The total land requ-ired for all 23 stations including parking lots would be 9.3941 hectares. For the preparatory works – constructing two overbridges and widening 3 arterial roads, undertaken by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, 102.50 cents of land has been acquired.
Though December last was the revised deadline for acquisition, it was extended to February.
Several traders have to be evicted for acquiring land along Banerjee Road and south railway station road and MG Road. If a pr-oper rehabilitation package is not given, they will not be ready to move. Ne-arly 70 traders will be directly affected by the project. The Kerala Merchants Union has already made it clear that traders should be adequately compensated and rehabilitated before carrying out the land acquisition.
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