| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| irse |
Posted - 07/07/2008 : 04:35:32
http://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?
id=807070277&cat=&n_date=20080707
Thiruvananthapuram | Monday, Jul 7 2008
Kerala Sports and Youth Affairs Minister M Vijayakumar today told
State Assembly the total cost of the proposed Metro Rail at Kochi was
expected to be Rs 3,084 crore.
In a written reply to Mr Joseph M Puthuseerry of Kerala Congress (M)
and others, he said the State and the Centre would each invest 15 per
cent of the total cost and the remaining would be raised as loan from
the Japan Bank of International Corporation (JBIC) Stating the total
length of the Metro Rail would be 25.253 km, which would be
constructed between Aluva and Thripunithura, he said the Delhi Metro
Rail Corporation would be the implementing authority.
Work would start immediately after the government received the
approval from the Planning Commission and the Centre. The Minister
also said the government had urged the Centre for a High-Speed
Corridor connecting IT and Port cities in South India and the request
was under the consideration of the Union Government.
irse |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 03/17/2010 : 20:28:07
Kerala approves Metro Rail project
http://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?id=1003170301&cat=&n_date=20100317
Thiruvananthapuram | Wednesday, Mar 17 2010
The Kerala Government today gave its approval for the development of
infrastructure facilities for the proposed Kochi Metro Rail.
The cabinet has given approval to entrust the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for developing the infrastructuire facilities, including widening of roads and building overbridges, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
When pointed out that approval was yet to be recieved from the Centre for the project, the Chief Minister said the government would get the approval soon.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 03/07/2010 : 00:19:51
More funds for metro rail; sanction yet to be granted
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/07/stories/2010030761160300.htm
KOCHI: The allocation of Rs 5 crore in the State budget for the Kochi metro rail project and Rs 50 crore for allied works like acquiring land would not bring about the desired results unless the Union Finance Ministry sanctions the project.
The Rs 20 crore set apart in the previous budget had lapsed because of the Centre's delay in granting the nod for the system of mass rapid transport that would considerably unwind traffic snarls in the city. “Only Rs 50 lakh of the Rs 20 crore was utilised, to set up the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's office at the eastern entry to the Ernakulam Junction railway station and for associated works. We are awaiting details of the total of Rs 55 crore allotted in the
present budget,” said a senior official in the agency.
The delay in getting Central sanction has held up widening works of many roads, the prominent ones being Banerjee Road and the Vytilla-Pettah Road into 22-metre-wide stretches. The DMRC had also drawn up plans to pull down the North overbridge in two phases (so that traffic flow is unaffected) and build a four-lane bridge there.
Utilities like pipelines, cables and electric posts can be relocated only after land is acquired. The survey work along the 25-km alignment from Aluva to Pettah is over.
An amount of Rs 5 crore has been set aside in the budget for the proposed bus terminal-cum-mobility hub at Vytilla. Sources in the Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO) said that the agency is preparing a detailed project report based on updated data, so that the tender for phase one of the project can be awarded in May.
Consultations are on with the PWD to widen roads in the vicinity and with the NHAI to construct a flyover or two at Vytilla junction. The Vytilla-Kaniampuzha Road would soon be widened up to the Kaniampuzha bridge. Bus traffic would be possible only if the bridge and the road on its eastern side are widened.
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| irse |
Posted - 01/04/2010 : 06:19:48
http://www.expressb uzz.com/edition/ story.aspx? Title=%E2% 80%98Underground +rail+more+ feasible% E2%80%99& artid=YXXWt/ YS1ME=&SectionID =9R67TMeNb/ w=&MainSectionID =wIcBMLGbUJI= &SectionName= gUhH3Holuas= &SEO=
01 Jan 2010 11:24:19 AM IST
KOCHI: Expressing reservations over taking up the Kochi Metro project on elevated technology, former District Collector K R Rajan has recommended having the metro rail constructed underground. He also urged the government to do more homework on the project and seek the suggestions of experts from across the globe.
Taking up the project on elevated pillars will lead to disruption of the developmental activities in the city as it would come in the way of the construction of flyovers and elevated roads, he said.
The city roads are not wide enough to have the rail over the medians, which will lead to traffic chaos on the city roads. The elevated rail line will also necessitate acquisition of land on the sides of the roads and demolition of business establishments and houses.
Implementation of the project as suggested by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will have disastrous consequences, he cautioned.
Most of the metro rails in the world that operate successfully are laid deep underground. The entire Kolkata metro rail and a major portion of the Delhi metro rail are developed underground. The elevated system was adopted in Hyderabad and Chennai as these cities have wide roads and surplus land, which are prerequisites for such a system, he said. The government should consider widening the roads and introducing suburban trains for addressing the problems of commuters, he said and recommended the construction of an elevated road between Aluva and Tripunithura.
Rajendra Saxena |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 08:22:02
Metro rail: proposal to widen roads submitted
http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/09/stories/2009120959200300.htm
Seven corridors have to be expanded urgently
KOCHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has submitted a detailed plan and estimate to the State government, stating its willingness to widen three major roads in the city and also the Ernakulam North overbridge.
The four stretches were among the seven corridors that would have to be widened urgently so that work on the pillars of the proposed Kochi metro-rail project could start. Thus, Banerjee Road and the North overbridge would have to be widened into four-lane stretches.
The approach road to the Ernakulam Junction railway station and the Salim Rajan Road too would have to be widened, so that traffic flow is least affected when the pillar construction begins. A road overbridge would have to be built on the Salim Rajan Road that would cross the railway track and the KSRTC bus stand and reach Rajaji Road.
Earlier, N.S. Sreenivasan, an independent traffic consultant and chairman of the ‘Transport Advisory Forum’ had included the four projects in the list of seven corridors that have to be widened in the city. The other ones are the MG Road, the SA Road and the Vytilla-Thripunithura Road, which would have to be widened to four-lanes.
The South overbridge would remain untouched since the metro-rail alignment passes through its northern side.
Widening the six roads and the overbridge are inevitable since each metro-rail pillar would be 1.2 metres wide. Each pillar would be secured by a 40-cm wide fender on both sides of the road. Thus, each pillar would occupy 2 metres of space on the centre of the road. The DMRC would barricade a 6-metres space around each pillar for around three months when work is on.
New look for city
An official of the agency expressed the confidence that land acquisition and widening of the four corridors that it has proposed, can be completed in less than a year. “The metro-rail project would thus bring a new look to the city by simultaneously widening narrow stretches.”
The toughest challenge would be to widen the North overbridge, since the Pullepady overbridge is yet to be commissioned. “Our plan is to first dismantle the two/three wheeler bays on either side of the bridge, so that two-wheelers and autos can use the bridge’s main carriageway. Once the northern and southern ends of the new bridge are built, the carriageway would be pulled down and vehicles diverted through the newly-built portions. A foot overbridge would be built on one side,” the official said.
On its part, the National Highways Authority of India would have to build flyovers at least in Edappally and Vytilla, so that work on the metro-rail does not throw traffic flow out of gear at the two unctions.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 11/13/2009 : 20:35:36
Kochi : Metro project
http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/13/stories/2009111354100500.htm
Kochi: The Union government on Thursday informed the Kerala High Court that the Kochi metro rail project was still under the consideration of the government.
In an affidavit, the Union Ministry of Urban Transport Department said the proposal had been considered at various levels. But the Union government was yet to accord its final approval to the proposal. The affidavit was filed in response to a writ petition seeking to restrain the State government from spending any amount towards the project without the prior approval of the Union government. |
| irse |
Posted - 10/31/2009 : 01:14:53
Environmental gain from metro rail
http://www.hindu. com/2009/ 10/31/stories/ 2009103156210300 .htm
KOCHI: The Kochi metro project, planned on the Delhi metro model, will have a low-carbon operation, similar to the latter. According to a report brought out by the World Institute of Sustainable Energy, Pune, a couple of eco-friendly measures adopted by the Delhi metro project have contributed immensely to the clean operational status. The Delhi metro is the first railway project in the world to be registered for carbon credits by the United Nations. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been certified to have prevented the release of over 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during 2004 to 2007.
The certification was done by the Germany-based organisation, Tuvnord.
Braking system
The emission reduction was effected through the regenerative braking system. Whenever the brakes of any of the trains are applied, the three-phase traction motors installed on the trains act as generators to produce electricity, which is sent back to the overhead power lines.
The power is used by other trains in the same line. The Kochi metro rail project is yet to get clearance.
The transport facility apart, one of the most important features of the metro rail project which has been overlooked by the planners is the benefit derived from the low-carbon advantage.
Rajendra Saxena |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 19:36:45
Minister rules out Delhi model for Kochi metro
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/27/stories/2009102761440300.htm
KOCHI: The Kochi metro railway project cannot be implemented along the lines of the Delhi metro where the Central government had a major stake, said Vayalar Ravi, the Union Minister for Overseas Indians Affairs, here on Monday.
Taking part in the meet-the-press programme organised by the Ernakulam Press Club, Mr. Ravi said the Central government supported the Delhi project as it was implemented in the national capital. The Prime Minister himself had made the stand clear to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Railway Ministers when they met him earlier, Mr Ravi said.
The Central government had cleared the Kochi project and the last UDF government in the State had even invited the Expression of Interest for its implementation.The process was stalled following the announcement of the election.
Yet, the State Railway Minister M. Vijayakumar alleged that the Centre had not cleared the project.
vThe LDF government could not take the project further, he said.
However, the allegations of Mr. Vijayakumar that the Centre had not cleared the project were wrong and politically motivated, he said.
The LDF government wanted the project to be implemented with the support of the Central government. The cities which have opted for metro railway projects were implementing them on their own.
The Central government will have to consider the country as a whole and cannot support Kerala alone for the implementation of the metro project, Mr. Ravi said.
The State government should initiate discussions on the mode in which the project can be implemented, he said.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 10/25/2009 : 19:07:54
Metro: team to meet Pranab
Centre neglecting State, says Law Minister M. Vijayakumar
State not in favour of public-private partnership for metro project
State has opened project office for Metro, allotted Rs. 50 lakh
KOCHI: The delay in clearing the Kochi Metro project is an example of the Centres neglect towards Kerala, said M. Vijayakumar, Minister for Law and Railways.
Though the project could be cleared in a weeks time, the Central authorities were inventing some reason or the other for delaying it. The State government will put pressure on the Central government for getting it cleared, said Mr. Vijayakumar while participating in the meet-the-press programme organised by the Ernakulam Press Club here on Sunday.
Mr. Vijayakumar said that a State delegation would meet the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for obtaining the clearance of the Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs for the Kochi project. The support of the Union Defence Minister A. K. Antony and the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, K.V. Thomas has also been sought for pressing the demand of the State, he said.
The State government has completed the preliminary measures for the implementation of the project including the opening of a project office in Kochi and allotting Rs. 50 lakh for completing the groundwork.
The National Highway Authority of India had recently cleared the proposal for setting up overbridges along the National Highway for the project.
However, the clearance of the central government was required for starting the work, he said.
The government is of the view that the project should be implemented along the lines of the Delhi metro railway project with the involvement of the State and the Central governments. The Kerala government is not in favour of the Private Public Participation mode suggested for the project.
Thought the Kochi metro may not be a financially viable project during the initial years, it will breakeven later. The central government needs to consider the development requirements of the Kochi with a futuristic view, he said.
E. Sreedharan, the chief of the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation, the implementing agency for the Kochi project, has stated that the project could be completed in three years, he said.
Food quota cut
The United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre was cruelly neglecting the State by reducing its food grain quota and signing the ASEAN agreement, he said.
The Central government slashed the food grain quota unannounced. It didnt even bother to send a notice to the Kerala government in this regard.
The statement of Union Minister Prof. Thomas that the State was not lifting the grain quota was a technical issue and the quota needs to be restored, he said. |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 19:48:02
Metro rail requires 25.3 hectares of land
Allocation of funds to follow sanction for project
Land is required for depots, alignments, power substations and administrative buildings.
KOCHI: The allocation of funds for the metro project by the Union government will follow soon after it gets the official sanction, according to officials. The project has been included in the 100-day programme of the union government.
Land acquisition will have to be completed prior to construction. The project is to be taken up along the alignment planned by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, a detailed report of which has already been submitted to the government.
The land requirement for the Aluva-Petta corridor is about 25.33 hectares, out of which 9.37 hectares belongs to the government. Land is mainly required for depots, alignment on sharp bends, station buildings, platforms, power substations and administrative buildings.
The Aluva-Petta corridor is 25.25 km long and runs in north-southwest direction for 19 km length up to Ernakulam South station from where it turns towards east. Starting from a point about 70 metres from the southern end of the goods shed at Aluva railway station, the corridor runs parallel to the existing broad gauge tracks upto 1.4 km.
Thereafter the alignment starts rising and becomes fully elevated when it reaches the median of NH 47 at 1.66 km. From this point, the alignment runs along the median of NH 47 up to 10.85 km till Edapally.
After this, the alignment follows the Banerji Road upto 16.6 km. at Madhava Pharmacy Junction from where it turns towards MG Road to reach Jose Junction at 18.65 km. It turns from there towards Ernakulam South railway station up to 19.1 km.
The alignment then crosses Ernakulam South railway yard and enters SA Road at 19.6 km. From here, the alignment runs along SA Road upto 22.45 km to reach Vyttila. It crosses NH 47 bypass to enter NH 49 and reaches Petta at 24.83 km. The alignment finally terminates at 25.25 km.
The Metro station at Aluva will be located within the Aluva railway station near the existing goods shed. The private bus stand and the KSRTC bus stand are situated nearby. At Petta, the Metro station will be located near the road itself with a view to extending the line towards Thripunithura in future.
The stations have been proposed at a distance of about 1 km from one another. They are to be located at the following locations: Aluva, Companypady, Muttom, Apollo Tyres, Jacobite Church, Kalamasserry, Edapally Junction, Edapally, Palarivattom, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaloor, Lissi Junction, Madhava Pharmacy, Maharajas College, Ernakulam South Station, GCDA, Fatima Church, Elamkulam, Vyttila, Thikkoodam and Petta.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 10:37:09
Kochi Metro Rail can be completed in 3 years: Official Message List
http://www.livemint.com/2009/07/08202558/Kochi-Metro-Rail-can-be-comple.html
The project, being implemented by the Delhi Metro has been delayed for the last three years but will now be included in the UPA’s 100-days programme
Kochi: The proposed Kochi Metro Rail Project could be completed in three years time once the Centre gives its sanction, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chairman E Sridharan said on Wednesday.
The preliminary works in connection with the project, including land survey and station drawing, were going on, he said.
When pointed out that no fund had been earmarked for the Kochi metro rail project in the central budget, he said that would not be a problem. DMRC is the implementing agency for the project, which was proposed to be taken up as a Centre-state joint venture. It has been delayed for the last three years due to various reasons. The Planning Commission gave its green signal to the project recently and the Centre had decided to include the project in its 100-days programme.
The elevated metro rail, expected to ease the traffic congestion in the city, is to be constructed on the model of Delhi Metro.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 07/05/2009 : 18:51:00
Kochi Metro likely to get budgetary support
DMRC may take up work on overbridges
Ministers from the State have requested budgetary provisions for the project
Construction of ROBs will get budgetary support from Railways, says Mr. Thomas
KOCHI: The Kochi Metro Railway project is likely to get budgetary support and an announcement is likely to be made in the budget to be presented in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The Union Urban Development Ministry has also recommended that the Kochi project should be given financial aid.
The Ministry has also made some suggestions regarding the share the Central government should have in the project.
The Ministers from the State have requested that budgetary provisions should be made for the project, said K.V. Thomas, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture.
The Urban Development Ministry is also in favour of the project and the participation of the State and the Central governments in it, Prof. Thomas said.
Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) has agreed to take up the construction of a Rail Overbridge (ROB) at Mullassery canal road in the city as part of the groundwork for the project.
The construction of the flyover at Atlantis may also be taken up by the DMRC. The work of the Pullepady Overbridge would be expedited.
Roundabout
The Kochi port is likely to take up the Pachalam roundabout work, Mr. Thomas said.
The construction of the ROBs will have to be completed before the commencement of the work of the Metro project so as to prevent any possible traffic snarls in the city. Senior officials of the DMRC held discussions with Prof Thomas in this regard on Saturday. The construction of the ROBs will get budgetary support from the Railway Ministry. The DMRC officials have said that the construction of the project would in no way affect the traffic flow, Mr. Thomas said.
Many traders and a section of the general public are apprehensive that the traffic along the busy city roads may be affected once the metro work begins.
The announcement that the Central government has included the Kochi metro railway project in the 100-day package has raised hopes that the wait for the rail-based mass rapid transport system would end soon. It was earlier reported that the Planning Commission had given its nod for the project to be implemented with the participation of the Central and State governments. The stake of the State government in the project and the final alignment of the route are some of the major decisions that need to be taken for carrying forward the project.
A section of the traders are outraged at the proposed route of the metro railway that passes through the MG road. They fear that such an alignment would lead to the end of the commercial and business establishments on the MG road, the business hub of the city.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 07/04/2009 : 09:40:24
http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070452380300.htm
KOCHI: The Kochi metro railway project should be implemented strictly on the lines of the Delhi metro project, the State government has reiterated. Law Minister M. Vijayakumar has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Urban Development Secretary on Wednesday in this regard.
Mr. Vijayakumar said news reports that clearance was given to the project was misleading. He said what really happened was that the Planning Commission, which had earlier opposed the project, had now agreed to the proposal with certain conditions which were not acceptable to the State. He said it was the Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs that had to clear the project. The Planning
Commission expressed its views when the files were sent to it, he said.The Centre had included the project in its 100 days programme and this had raised the hopes of city dwellers.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 07/01/2009 : 18:54:40
State urged to finalise metro alignment
Corporation should have a say in management of the system: Deputy Mayor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State authorities asked to address concerns
over the alignment of metro rail
Corporation all for the project, says Mayor
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KOCHII: The State government should take immediate steps for finalising the alignment of the proposed Kochi metro railway project, said K.V. Thomas, Union Minister of State for Agriculture.
The land acquisition process should be accelerated as the Central government has given the green signal for the project, said Prof. Thomas who represents Ernakulam in Parliament.
As a section of the traders and the general public have raised apprehensions about the project, the government should come forward for dispelling their doubts.
The support of the general public should also be ensured for the project. A mechanism for ensuring the timely completion of the project should also be put in place, he suggested.
The city is viewing the metro railway project as a solution to its perennial problem of traffic snarls.
The Central clearance for the project has come at a time when the civic body has decided to focus on improving the urban transport facilities. However, the corporation is yet decided on its role in the metro railway management system.
The civic bodies in the city including the corporation, the Greater Cochin Development Authority, the District Panchayat and some public sector companies had earlier jointly raised the funds for carrying out the preliminary study report of the project, said Deputy Mayor C.K. Manisankar.
It would be good if the corporation has a role in the management of the system as the Railway project is for the city, said Mr. Manisankar.
The corporation has not discussed its involvement in the project, said Mayor Mercy Williams.
It is mostly a Central project and the role of the State government in the new scheme is also unclear.
It has to be found out whether there would be a board for the management of the system.
The corporation council had earlier given the green signal for the project, she said. Meanwhile, it is understood that some of the traders along the route of the railway project have reached an understanding with the metro railway authorities regarding the space that has to be given for the project.
A section of the traders had opposed the alignment of the project and suggested that it should be taken along another route.
Bus service
The city authorities are planning to introduce a fleet of premium buses with the support of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The primary intention of the bus service is to reduce the number of private vehicles coming into the city.
Though it has been announced that the bus service would begin by December, a consensus is yet to be reached among the various stakeholders of the project.
The Local Self Government Department and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation are yet to reach an understanding regarding the management of the bus service. It is learnt that the KSRTC is keen on managing the new system on its own whereas the Local Self Government Department is opposed to such a move.
The Kochi Corporation, another stakeholder of the project, has made it clear that it should have a say regarding the fixing of bus routes in the city.
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| S.ravi |
Posted - 06/29/2009 : 18:20:02
Addressing a press conference here to unveil the 100-day Action Plan, Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said the new criteria for allocation of funds under the JNNURM would qualify towns with a population of five lakh for funds, instead of the earlier 10 lakh population criteria. The move will add 28 new cities to the existing 65 cities.
Financial assistance
The metro project for Kochi would also be taken up for sanction soon. |
| S.ravi |
Posted - 06/15/2009 : 19:01:00
Centre to consider Kochi metro rail project
Decision on mode of implementation soon: Thomas
KOCHI: The Union Cabinet will soon consider the proposal for the Kochi Metro railway project, said K.V. Thomas, Union Minister of State for Agriculture.
Speaking at a reception organised by the District Congress Committee for the six newly elected Members of Parliament from the district, Prof. Thomas said a decision favourable to the State would be taken by the Cabinet.
He said the Planning Commission and the State government had different views regarding the mode of implementation of the project. A final decision on the implementation would be taken in consultation with all concerned, he said. At the same time, the State government should take a decision regarding the alignment of the metro railway project, he said.
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