CM Oommen Chandy clears light metro fears
Launches work, says Kochi metro also started before getting Central nod.
KOZHIKODE: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has dismissed the Opposition criticisms against the light metro project here saying that the preliminary works of Kochi Metro were undertaken much before the centre had given sanction for the project.
Launching the light metro work at the Tagore Centenary Hall here on Friday, Mr Chandy referred to the allegations that the centre was yet to sanction the project and said the rebuilding of the Ernakulam North railway overbridge had commenced in October 2011 although the centre had not given its nod for the Kochi Metro.
The overbridge was inaugurated on December 30, 2012, which was followed by the launch of Kochi Metro works in 2013 by the then PM Manmohan Singh.
Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju who presided announced the handing over of 8.2 hectares of government land for the light metro project.
He also promised to open the Panniyankara overbridge by June. Minister M.K. Muneer announced the administrative sanction of '200 crore for the road widening project from Meenchanda to Mananchira as part of the light metro project.
The light metro will cover a distance of 13.03 km from Meenchanda to Kozhikode Medical College at a total cost of Rs 2,509 crore. The project that is expected to be completed by 2021 will be executed by Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd. An interim consultancy pact has already been signed with KRTCL by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.