Kochi metro Phase-I extends to Infopark.

Kochi metro rail will be extended towards Infopark in Kakkanad in Phase-I of the project.

A board meeting of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) held in New Delhi today approved the detailed project report (DPR) for the extension of metro from Jawaharlal Nehru stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad for a distance of 11.17 km with an estimated Rs. 1,600 crore.

Early completion of this extension would help improve the viability of Phase-I metro. The board has approved the report on rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy and its package for the project-affected.

The R&R study was undertaken by Aarvee Consultants & Abnaki Infrastructure and it was prepared in accordance with the requirements of Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act and the social safeguard guidelines of the funding agencies.

Though KMRL is not legally obliged to provide R&R benefits to the project-affected-persons (PAP) as part of the land acquisition for projects approved before Jan 1, 2014, however, for ensuring an equitable and best-in-class package, KMRL is extending it to all the PAPs. The total cost implication for the R&R package is Rs. 25 crore for the 332 affected families, said Elias George, managing director.



BS