Metro extension brings cheers to stakeholders.

The Cabinet nod to extend Kochi metro to Kakkanad has been received with jubilation by various stakeholders.

The decision comes a day after Infopark CEO Hrishikesh Nair passionately pitched for such an extension at a workshop that discussed the development of the city.

It was the only solution to address the transportation problems of Infopark, which was set to create 70,000 jobs with the completion of its first phase and another 80,000 jobs in the second phase in five to six years, said Mr. Nair who was profuse in his praise for Kochi Metro Rail Limited Managing Director Elias George who he said had worked tirelessly to make it possible.

'Early completion of this corridor would help us to improve the viability of Phase-I of the Kochi Metro Project, as it will augment the revenues for KMRL due to the additional ridership coming from the high growth areas of Kakkanad. We will start the process for land acquisition immediately', said Mr. George.

Kakkanad extension needs 8.65 acres of land to be acquired for a cost of 140.68 crore. There is also a need for acquiring 3.85 acres of land for the preparatory work on this route. SmartCity Kochi CEO Gigo Joseph was equally ecstatic and described it as the fulfilment of one of the major demands of the project for long. 'We are looking at about 1.50 lakh jobs and Kochi Metro is the only option to facilitate the movement of such a massive number of people,' he said.

Benny Behanan, Thrikkakara MLA, said that the extension to Kakkanad was organic as that alone ensured the viability of the Kochi Metro project. 'It would also lead to the development of the eastern regions of the city and had been demanded unequivocally by the people,' he said.


THE HINDU