Viaducts design in final stages

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The design of the crucial elevated viaducts for the Kochi metro project is in the final stages and would be similar to that used in the Airport Express line of the Delhi metro.

Viaducts, which are elevated concrete structures on which trains run, will have especially designed blue polycarbonate sheets on both sides that will act as a noise barrier preventing the noise from reaching the road.

“The designing is in the final stages and the DMRC will soon float a global tender to award the work. A French company is in the race and we’ll see whether other major companies come up with more attractive offers,” sources said.

The work is slated to start at the Aluva-Kaloor stretch as minimum land acquisitions are required on this stretch. The height of the viaducts will be 5.5 metres from the base.

Work on the coach maintenance yard in Muttom would also start at the earliest with the DMRC in the final stages of processing tenders.

“The awardee will be declared in a week and we’re going at full throttle. If the state could handover the land without delay, we're confident of completing the work in three years or less,” they said.

A team of senior DMRC officials led by Jithender Tyagi (director, works) arrived in the city and conducted a site inspection of all the proposed stations from Aluva to Pettah on Thursday.

A high-level meet over the Kochi metro project is being held on July 10 which will be attended by ‘metro man’ E. Sreedharan besides top KMRL and state government representatives.