Kochi Metro work fastest in country: DMRC

Kochi Metro work fastest in country: DMRC

Kochi: Denying criticism the construction of Kochi Metro was progressing behind the schedule, its implementing agency Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday said it was the fastest in the country.

“Though we are facing land acquisition hurdles, we’re confident of operating trains on the 18-km stretch from Aluva to Maharajas by June 2016. No other metro project in the country was opened for a distance of 18 kms at a stretch. Kochi Metro will be the fastest one upon commissioning,” a senior official said.

The initial section opened for metro train operations in the Delhi metro project was just 8.5 kms (Shahdara to Tis Hazari) and it took four years to complete. “As per our goal, we’ll open 18-km stretch of the Kochi metro, completing the construction works, in a record period of three years,” the official said.

The next lengthiest initial section to be opened after the Kochi Metro would be the Mumbai Metro with 11.07 kms. The section from Versova to Ghatkopar, completed last year, was built in six years.

“The civil works including that of the stations will be finished by October this year so as to facilitate the trial run by January 2016. However, we’re facing challenges in the rest of the section in the form of land acquisition delays. Many stretches are yet to be handed over in the South station-Vytilla section,” he said.