Kochi: Rs 189 crore to uplift metro corridor

Kochi: The French Development Agency AFD has expressed its willingness to extend financial assistance to the tune of Rs 189 cr to Kochi Metro Corporation Ltd (KMRL) for the development of non-motorised transport projects from Aluva to SN Junction in the metro corridor. The assistance will be for the development of Aluva Junction, Edappally Junction, Vyttila Junction, Petta Junct-ion, SN Junction and improvements to SA Road.  

The AFD team visiting the project areas expressed satisfaction on the progress of Phase-I. They also indicated their willingness to consider the Phase-II, Phase-IA up to SN Junction of Kochi Metro for fut-ure funding.

“Discussions with AFD were extraordinarily positive and their willingness to consider the KMRL projects for further funding is a most welcome development for KMRL and its ambitious projects.  With the help of AFD, KMRL will be able to execute these projects which will help impr-ove city landscape to international levels,” said KMRL MD A.P.M. Muhammed Hanish.

AFD had done detailed evaluation of the projects on Nove-mber 19-20. KMRL presented the details of Phase-I, IA & IB, Non-Motorised Trans-port system from Alu-va to S N Junction and Vyttila Mobility Hub projects. The team also reiterated their earlier willingness to fund Vyttila Mobility Hub, after due appra-isal of the project by AFD.

AFD team consisting of Mr. Mathieu Verd-ure, Task Team Lead-er on Urban Transpo-rt at the Transporta-tion and Mobility Div-ision (TER/MOB), Ms. Clémence Vidal De La Blache, Deputy Direc-tor of New Delhi AFD Office and Rajnish Ahuja, Project Officer in New Delhi AFD office, visited KMRL to review the progress of Phase-I of Kochi Metro Rail project and to study the extensions and other proposals for possible fu-nding. The AFD team also had a site visit covering Maharajas College to Trippunit-hura.