Kochi Metro set to be the fastest built Metro system in India

Kochi Metro is all set to receive the first set of coaches in December 2015 for the trial run. The French company Alstom will supply the coaches at the estimated time, so as to meet the deadline for the scheduled commissioning, of the first reach of Metro, from Aluva to Maharaja’s College ground in June 2016.

The coaches are being made at Alstom’s manufacturing facility in Steel City, Hyderabad. Track laying on the overhead girders on the busy roads is progressing at a fast pace, getting ready for the trial run.

The fixing of rails in girders, which is one of the most important segments of ‪‎ Metro‬ construction, is executed under the supervision of senior Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) engineers. The work keeps progressing 24 X 7 and the Kochi Metro Rail workers, the Bhais of ‎Kochi,‬ are working day and night.

Kochi Metro is poised to set a record as the best executed Metro project in India, thanks to the dynamic leadership provided by Metroman E Sreedharan, Principal Consultant of DMRC and Elias George IAS, Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd(KMRL). It will be the fastest built Metro system in India to be executed within the project time of 3 years without any time or cost overruns. This is despite the fact that the Metro has already lost 120 man days due to hartals, strikes by quarry owners etc.

The land acquisition till the Vytilla reach is over and that for the Vytilla-Thripunithura reach is expected to be completed by December end.

The Government has already given sanction for the 11.2-km Phase-I B extension of the Metro from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Kaloor to Infopark via Kakkanad. The pegmarking of land for the Kakkanad extension has been completed.

In the next two phases, Kochi Metro is expected to be extended to Angamali via Nadumbasseri International Airport and to the tourist hub of Fort Kochi from Jose Junction at MG Road.

Kochi Metro will have many distinct features. It runs on Third Rail, first of it kind, and can be controlled with driverless features. It is eco-friendly and runs on regenerative energy from Brakes and Solar Panels.

It is integrated with two railway stations, 3 bus terminals and inland waterways. It will be operated under Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) with other wings like bus, water bus, cycle, taxi etc. Ticket collection is through NFS Chip and is integrated with NPI & Axis bank. Stations will have theme based designs integrated with Kerala art and culture and will utilize solar power and half height glass platform screen doors.

A moot question now is: Will Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who has taken great initiatives to remove the hurdles in the execution of Kochi Metro, remain as CM to flag off the commercial run of Metro in June 2016? Kerala is expected to have its Assembly elections in March or April 2016 and by the time the Metro is ready for commissioning, a new Government will be in the saddle, in the state. The ruling Congress Party has high political and electoral stakes in the timely completion of Kochi Metro.

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