KMRL to acquire land for Kochi metro extension

Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) will initiate the land acquisition process for the extension of Kochi Metro to Tripunithura Railway Station. Contrary to the earlier plan of Tripunithura municipality acquiring land for constructing a new road connecting Seema auditorium (near railway overbridge on Pettah-Irumbanam junction road) and railway station, the KMRL will be responsible for acquiring land from S N Junction to the proposed Metro station near Tripunithura railway station. There is a requirement to acquire 10.75 acres for widening the road and for constructing a new bus terminal. The project is estimated to cost Rs 102 cr. “The municipality does not have enough funds. The matter was taken up before chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. It was assured that KMRL will acquire land required for the metro from S N Junction till their proposed station at Tripunithura,” said municipal chairperson Chandrika Devi. She said that the local body would have to take up the task of widening the road from the Metro station to the overbridge near the market. Moreover, the municipality will have to acquire land for the bus terminal and execute its construction.