Rs 1,350 crore for Kochi Metro phase II

KOCHI: The French funding agency Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD) has formally announced its willingness to give a loan to the tune of 180 million Euros (nearly Rs 1350 crore) for Kochi Metro Phase II – the Kakkanad extension. Kochi Metro Rail Limited managing director Elias George will represent the Kerala government in discussions to be held in Paris on Wednesday and Thursday (November 9 and 10) with the top management of the AFD. The estimated cost for Phase II is Rs 2,100 crore.

After holding discussions with the KMRL chief and top officials, members of the high-level AFD delegation, in the city for a two-day visit, expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Metro project. Addressing the media, Mrs. Rima Le Coguic, Head of the Transport Division, AFD Paris, said that the agency was in favour of giving funds for the second phase of the Metro and various other city improvement projects being undertaken by KMRL.

AFD has already agreed to provide Rs 161 crore for city improvement projects including Rs 100 crore for the development of 22 stations, Rs 30 crore for the development of Aluva, Edappally and Vyttila junctions and Rs 31 crore for other urban places making initiatives like the development of walkways. The Kakkanad extension proposal is waiting for the clearance of the Public Investment Board which is likely to be come through by the month-end or early December. Works on the second phase was likely to begin within two or three months, said the KMRL MD.

The French team also expressed an interest in funding the ‘smart mobility’ component of the Union government’s Smart City Mission project. “Funding the Metro project is not our sole objective. We have plans to widen our approach for an integrated urban development programme. Since the Smart City Mission is an integrated approach to urban development, AFD is interested in giving financial assistance,” she said.

AFD is willing to give a loan of nearly Rs 40 crore to Rs 50 crore (6 to 7 million Euros) for setting up the command and control centre proposed under the smart transport initiatives. Addressing the media, Elias George said that the AFD delegation was appreciative of the gender-friendly approach of the KMRL. “The decision to engage Kudumbasree Mission in various service sectors of the Metro and to recruit transgenders has received an encouraging response from them,” he said. Mr. Mathieu Verdure, Transport expert, Paris and Mr. Hervé Dubreuil, Deputy Director of AFD New Delhi are also part of the team.

LARRA act hits works beyond Vyttila

The newly introduced Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARRA) is one of the major reasons which delayed Metro Rail works beyond Vyttila, Kochi Metro Rail Limited chief Elias George said. Though the Land Acquisition Act was amended in 2015, the previous government did not finalise the rules and procedures as per the new Act. The delay in framing the rules and regulations slowed down the acquisition process along the Vyttila – Petta stretch. “Earlier, the land owners were ready to handover plots directly, but with the enforcement of the new Act, there is a general impression that they will get more benefits if land is acquired through LARRA Act,” he said.

Widening of the road from Vyttila to Petta has stopped as the takeover of land is yet to be completed.   Meanwhile, commenting on recent reports over the KMRL’s request to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to provide sufficient officials with experience in Metro systems for the Kochi project, Elias George said that the matter had been discussed and settled. “The DMRC has agreed to provide enough number of technical people to coordinate operations in Kochi. We have been making all possible efforts to ensure the commissioning of the project by April,” he added.