The first board meeting of the reconstituted Kochi Metro Rail Ltd has sought the state’s permission to include more areas in its jurisdiction and notify the same for future expansion.
“There is no change in the first phase from Aluva to Pettah. However, we’ve decided to request for more areas to be covered by the project foreseeing future needs, say in the next 30 to 50 years”, chairman Sudhir Krishna said.
This has in effect amounted to the board approving the expansion of the metro project to the airport and beyond, covering major points like Tripunithura, Kakkanad and Angamali. It has also decided to give shape to a blueprint of various phases of expansion.
“Metros are not merely a transport mode. They should result in regional development by creating new economic opportunities. Other infrastructure developments like the Bus Rapid Transport system or the waterways connection should go hand-in-hand. The centre will not only help plan such projects but would also meet half the project cost”, Krishna said.
The meet also formed two sub-committees, one to revisit the DPR submitted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in 1995 to include the latest technologies available in the light of similar projects being executed in Bangalore and Chennai. This will include V.P. Joy (Principal Secretary, Finance, govt of Kerala), Jitendra Tyagi (Director, Works, DMRC and D.D.Pahuja (Director, Rolling Stock and Signalling, Bangalore metro).
Another sub-committee has been formed to look into the powers of KMRL MD that includes Tyagi, Pahuja, A.K. Gupta (Addl Member, Railway Board) and Ernakulam district collector P.I.Sheik Pareeth.