New alignment for Metro's Kakkanad extn.

Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) is readying a new alignment for Kochi Metro's Kakkanad extension, following opposition from a few land owners.

A draft on the new alignment is ready and further verification is on to make it foolproof. Care has been taken to steer clear of SN Temple at Alinchuvadu and an apartment near Vazhakkala which would have to be partially dismantled to make way for the metro. Efforts are also on to minimise land acquisition on the premises of Kerala Media Academy located at Collectorate Junction, said sources in Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL).

Occupants of the apartment had reportedly expressed concern of its structural safety if its front portion was dismantled to make way for the metro viaduct.

The road from Palarivattom to Kakkanad has to be widened to 22 metres to pave way for metro’s viaduct. An earlier plan to widen narrow portions of the corridor to 16.50 metres was dropped fearing traffic snarls during and after metro’s civil works.

Problems remain despite RITES redrawing the alignment since a high-rise building on eastern side of Palarivattom Bypass Junction is located very close to the junction’s bell mouth.

Most other high-rise buildings can be spared, except for the front portion of a few, metro sources said.

The KMRL is awaiting funds from the State government to widen narrow parts of roads prior to commencing metro works.

The agency completed peg marking along the proposed 11-km-long metro corridor earlier this year.

Responding to the demand to extend the metro by another three kms up to Smart City, KMRL sources said that Central approval is awaited for the Kakkanad extension. We would have to submit another report to the State and Centre for the further three-kms extension that is expected to cost around just Rs. 600 crore since land acquisition would be negligible, they added.

THE HINDU