Kochi Metro impact spreads over the entire city

KOCHI: Considering the spillover benefits, city residents will admit that the Kochi Metro Rail project has indeed heralded a new development scenario for Kochi. Though Kochiites are divided over the big impact of Metro in decongesting the city roads, there is no difference of opinion over the series of development projects implemented as the preparatory works. The new four-lane north railway over bridge, Salim Rajan flyover near KSRTC bus station, railway over bridge at Pachalam,  Edappally flyover and the several city roads constructed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation over a couple of years have made the city traffic smoother.

It was the reconstruction of the North RoB spending Rs 50 crore which was the first project taken up by DMRC as Metro preliminary works in November 2011. The project was completed in two phases. The four-lane reconstructed bridge with a length of 360 metres was opened in December 2013 which significantly reduced the traffic congestion along the Kaloor – Kacheripady stretch. The second major project Salim Rajan RoB, inaugurated in May 2013, cost Rs 38 crore.

The 425-metre-long two-lane bridge connecting Salim Rajan Road near Gandhinagar and Rajaji Road near KSRTC bus stand was completed in 15 months. Pachalam RoB has been included in preparatory works of Metro and the DMRC could complete the project in a record period of 10 months. The 330 metre-long bridge could be completed in the minimum time at the cost of '39.50 crore, 25 per cent less than the estimated. The bridge was inaugurated in January 2016. A couple of arterial roads and several interior roads has also been developed by the Metro agencies as part of preparatory works.