Kochi Metro opens Maharaja College-Thykoodam stretch for public

Kochi, India (Urban Transport News): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated metro services of Kochi Metro on Maharaja's College-Thykoodam stretch today. The newly-inaugurated 5.65 km long stretch, which extends from Maharaja's College Junction to Thykoodam, takes the total distance covered by the Kochi Metro so far to around 24 km. Now the Kochi Metro added a total of five new stations — Ernakulam South, Kadavanthra, Elamkulam, Vyttila and Thykoodam in its network.

Maharaja's College-Thykoodam Stretch

The 5.65 km from Maharaja's College to Thykoodam is passing through the center core of Kochi city, touching the major Railway Station Ernakulam South and Vytila, the busiest junction of Kerala. A 90-meter single-span balanced cantilever across conventional railway lines have been constructed at Ernakulam South Station. While addressing the gathering at the event, Chief Minister Vijayan said,

The aim is to improve the infrastructure by improving the trust of the people and implementing the development. The government has already begun the process of developing the infrastructure. And in this venture, the government is trying to avoid the use of plastic completely.

Chief Minister Vijayan and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also flagged off the groundbreaking ceremony of Terminal 1 of India's first water metro project in Kochi and laying of foundation stone ceremony of Petta-SN Junction section of Kochi Metro. After inaugurating the function, Vijayan said,

This project will become a reality in March. Water Metro is the first water transport system in India. The project will be implemented in a timely manner. This requires the support of all representatives as it is planned to raise the Kochi Water Supply Project.

Today's visit to Kochi is all the more special because after PM Sh @narendramodi Ji inaugurated the 1st phase of Kochi Metro in June '17, I had the privilege of joining Kerala CM for the inauguration of 2nd Phase in Oct '17, just a month after becoming a minister.

Kochi Metro Phase I Extension (Petta-SN Junction)

The extension of Kochi Metro Rail Project Phase I will be done between Petta and S.N. Junction. It will stretch across 2 kilometres and will have 2 metro stations, namely Vadakkekotta and SN Junction. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.710.93 crore. Updating the status on his official twitter handle, Union Minister Puri said,

Today's visit to Kochi is all the more special because after PM Narendra Modi Ji inaugurated the 1st phase of Kochi Metro in June 2017, I had the privilege of joining Kerala CM for the inauguration of 2nd Phase in October 2017, just a month after becoming a minister.

We also laid foundation stones for Petta-SN Junction Section of Kochi Metro & for Kochi Water Metro Project to provide intermodal connectivity between jetties, bus terminals & metro rail. GoI has arranged sovereign loan from KfW of Germany as external funding for this project.

Kochi Water Metro Project

The Kochi Water Metro project plans for the development of 15 identified routes, connecting 10 islands. More than 1,00,000 islanders are expected to benefit from this project. The German bank KfW will provide financial assistance for this project. Dignitaries including Chief Minister P. Vijayan, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Metroman Dr. E. Sreedharan, Secretary for Housing & Urban Affairs Durga Shankar Mishra, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, Kochi Mayor Ms. Soumini Jain, MLAs M Swaraj and PT Thomas travelled on the first Metro service from Maharaja's College junction to reach Kadavanthra station to attend the inaugural function at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

The remaining one-kilometer stretch which will connect Petta, in the first phase, is expected to be completed by January next year.