AFD commits to financing Kochi Metro phase two.

The French development agency, AFD, has officially announced their commitment to finance the second phase of Kochi Metro from Jawaharlal Nehru stadium near Palarivattom to Infopark near Kakkanad.

Addressing media persons in Kochi on Friday, an AFD representative expressed satisfaction on the progress of Kochi Metro project. Nicolas Fornage, director, AFD said: 'We are confident that the commercial operational deadline will be met by April, 2017. We are committed to fulfilling Kochi Metro Rail Ltd's request to fund the second phase of the Kochi Metro and the improvements of major junctions like Edappally and Kalamassery.' Fornage said they plan to approve a formal agreement for funding by the first half of 2017.

KMRL managing director Elias George said the phase one and two of Kochi Metro, Water Metro and Smart City projects would together bring in a total investment of Rs 11,000 crores to the city, of which Rs 9,000 core would be set aside for mobility related projects alone. 'KMRL will soon invite tenders for implementing junction improvement project at Edappally. We will also take up a similar project at Aluva,' he said.

George said once there is clarity regarding the construction of flyovers, the metro agency would take up Vyttila junction improvement. For implementing such projects KMRL requires approval from the national highway development authority (NHAI) and police.

TOI