Metro Rail News Online

Kochi: The second-phase extension for metro rail received Kerala government’s approval for the state’s lone metro system. Pinarayi Vijayan who chaired the cabinet gave his approval for the extension. This leg of Kochi Metro will take the elevated train network to the city’s IT hub located at Kakkanad. This will be 11.2 km-long extension starting from JLN Stadium to Kakkanad that will be covering 11 stations. The estimated cost for said project is around Rs 2310 crore. The Kochi Metro stations on this route are - Kochi CEZ, Chembumukku, Palarivattam Junction, Palarivattam Bypass, Infopark-1Vazhakkala, Kunnumpuram, Kakkanad, Chittethukara and KINFRA. Presently the Kochi Metro Rail network is plying from Aluva which is a suburb of Kochi, connecting the city centre near Maharaja’s College covering over 18 km. There are a total of 16 stations at this route. On the other hand the first-phase extension commencing at Maharaja’s College to Pettah, taking the train...

Kochi: As per the survey for the proposed 11.2-km Kochi metro rail link from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor to the InfoPark in Kakkanad, 400 shops to be affected. The survey states that 40 shops will be completely destroyed and 360 shops will be partially ripped off. In the primary findings of the survey it is estimated that land from 280 landowners will have to be acquired. The study was conducted ahead of acquisition for Kochi Metro. Initial work on metro rail extension to Kakkanad has began and officials are optimistic that the central government will give due clearance soon. On the other hand representative from the Kerala Voluntary Health Service held discussions with those who will lose their commercial establishments and land. KVHS conduct studies on social implication of such project on those likely to be affected directly. KVHS is likely to complete the study by the end of this month and the findings will be submitted to district administration. The study is undertak...

Kochi: Travelling in metro will now come with an added feature – an exquisite air-conditioned bed space dormitory. Yes, you are reading it right, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has opened India’s first dormitory facility at MG Road Metro Station. This is first of its kind initiative taken by a metro body offering world class accommodation at pocket friendly rate. This will be a bed space dormitory with air-conditioned facility. The dormitory will be operated and managed by Peters Inn. The project was inaugurated jointly by by Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain alongside MLAs S Sharma, V D Satheeshan, Hibi Eden, P T Thomas as well as former MLA Dominic Presentation and KMRL MD APM Mohammed Hanish. The facility will be available at MG Road Kochi Metro Station. The dormitory comes with loads of features like free Wi-Fi, security cameras, lockers and check-in and check-out facility round the clock. This will be a fully air-conditioned dormitory which people can use at economical rents....

Kochi: Amid a demand for a cut in fares, the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) Managing Director Elias George made it clear on Wednesday that the fare policy would be reviewed only after the commencement of metro commercial operations till Maharajas. “The correct pattern of regular metro users can be arrived at only when the Metro reaches Maharajas College. We will analyse the situation then and accordingly effect certain changes in the fare structure,” the official said while visiting the Changambuzha Metro station where the mural art work decorations were completed. After the initial rush, thanks to joyriders, the metro trains operating in the Aluva-Palarivattom section is witnessing less commuter patronage during the weekdays though the situation is much better on holidays and weekends. According to the official, the authorities aim to start the metro operation in the 18 km Aluva-Maharajas stretch by the first week of October, before the Under-17 Football World Cup gets underwa...