Latest news with #KMRL
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
KMRL speeds up Srinagar Water Metro feasibility study despite terror attack
KOCHI: The Pahalgam terror attack and the resultant conflagration between India and Pakistan might have shaken the entire Kashmir valley. But authorities have ensured that development activities, including the proposed Srinagar Water Metro, won't suffer a bit. If anything, the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) — which the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has entrusted with conducting water metro feasibility studies at 21 centres across the country — has speeded up the study for the Srinagar project. While the terror attack had initially spurred thoughts of 'delay', the authorities grew determined to implement the project at the earliest to pass on the message that such 'cowardly terror acts' cannot stop the nation from marching ahead. A three-member team headed to Srinagar in the third week of May and completed the preliminary study, which prima facie found the project 'feasible' in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. 'We reversed our initial decision and undertook the challenge as we felt such cowardly acts shouldn't come in the way of a region's development activities. In fact, the authorities there are also pushing forward the Srinagar Smart City project,' said Kochi Water Metro chief operating officer (COO) Sajan P John, who led the team. The preliminary study identified routes linking the famous Dal lake and the Jhelum river which passes through the heart of the city. The targeted population was both local residents and tourists. It, however, suggested that only electric boats should be used, given the fragile environment there. KMRL plans to prepare study report by mid-July 'IWAI chairman Vijay Kumar personally arrived there and said they are ready to invest in the project to develop a green urban transport system,' Sajan said. KMRL intends to prepare a detailed preliminary study report by the middle of July. IWAI will then initiate steps to prepare a detailed project report (DPR). KMRL is optimistic it will be entrusted with that work as well, thanks to the successful operation of the Kochi Water Metro.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nod for additional land acquisition for Chilavannoor Bund Road bridge
Kochi: Expediting land acquisition procedures for reconstruction of Chilavannoor Bund Road bridge, revenue department issued an order approving recommendation of expert committee report for additional land for the project in old bridge area. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now An additional 0.1127 hectares in Poonithura village will be acquired for construction work of approach road and bridge. The project is being implemented as part of Integrated Urban Regeneration and Water Transport System (IURWTS) project of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), and state govt has already accorded sanction for the revised tender of Rs 38.77 crore for the bridge. Earlier, KIIFB accorded sanction for the reconstruction at an estimated cost of Rs 32.58 crore. Following this, KMRL published tender and work was awarded to ULCCS. Although initial construction work, including piling, commenced, the project required additional land, prompting the latest decision to acquire more land to ensure the project's completion. The narrow bridge is one of the major causes of stagnation and flooding in and around the city. New bridge will be an iconic 90m span bridge, which is expected to reduce flooding in the city.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Kochi metro seeks help of BPCL, agri-horticulture society for greening medians
Faced with stiff opposition from socio-environmental and political activists to the proposal of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) to cover medians beneath the Edappally-Thripunithura Pettah metro corridor with concrete paver blocks, the metro agency has sent a letter to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), seeking the oil major's help to develop green lungs along the 524 medians on the stretch. KMRL has also turned to the Ernakulam District Agri-Horticulture Society, seeking its expertise to plant the apt variety of plants atop the medians, which had over the past eight years become a dumping ground for waste and construction debris, it is learnt. In addition, the overgrowth of weeds had turned them into eyesores located at the centre of arterial roads. Making matters worse, the metro agency failed to live up to its assurance of readying a vertical garden every few metro pillars, sources said. KMRL sources said the agency was negotiating with BPCL on the oil major taking over the upkeep of the medians by planting saplings. 'On its part, the horticulture society has offered its help for the initiative, after Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod protested against the move to cover the medians with paver blocks,' they added. The metro agency had floated a tender earlier this year for the paver-block initiative, citing slack cooperation from a majority of shops and other commercial establishments that had initially agreed to sponsor the greening of the medians. 'Although a firm responded to the tender, we are awaiting the BPCL's reply to our letter on the greening project,' the sources added. In the meantime, BPCL sources said that, having received KMRL's recent letter, the agency was in the initial stage of deliberations with the metro agency on the initiative. The management would have to look at different aspects of the project, they added. In his letter to KMRL, Mr. Vinod had termed the metro agency's paver-block proposal as a blatant violation of its assurance to plant saplings atop the medians. The paver block project would only benefit mega advertisement agencies. Even before the metro's commissioning in 2017, KMRL had agreed in its contract with the Centre and the French lending agency to carry out a greening drive on the medians, and there is no justification for abandoning it. He added that the metro agency had overlooked the wide availability of an array of indigenous plants that needed little maintenance and watering, which the horticulture society had recommended. They would also lessen the metro's carbon footprint and the toll taken due to tens of hundreds of trees being cut down for the metro.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Opposition councillors in Kochi corporation to intensify protests against move to pave tiles on Metro medians
Kochi: Opposition councillors in the Kochi corporation are set to intensify their protest against KMRL's move to pave tiles on the road medians along the Metro line. The councillors have decided to raise the issue at the next council meeting. According to the councillors, KMRL has been constantly violating the conditions set while receiving approval from the govt. "During the inception of construction, KMRL promised that the Metro would be as eco-friendly as possible. Hundreds of trees were felled for the construction. Then, KMRL's version was that they would plant more saplings than the number of trees cut down. They stated in the detailed project report (DPR) that measures would be taken to make Kochi greener. But nothing concrete has happened in this regard," said M G Aristotle, secretary, UDF parliamentary party in the corporation. "Now, they have decided to pave tiles on the medians. It will add to the waterlogging in the city. Moreover, the plan will destroy thousands of flowering plants now being grown on the median. If KMRL does not back out from the project, we will intensify the strike," he added. On Monday, the councillors planted some flowering plants on the median as a mark of protest against the move to pave tiles. T J Vinod, MLA, planted the first sapling as part of the protest.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
KMRL to start e-bus charter service in Kochi today
Kochi: In a fresh initiative, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) will be launching charter e-bus services in city areas using the electric AC buses of 'Metro Connect' feeders. KMRL started bookings for the services, which will be available on a daily and monthly rental basis. The first charter service will begin from Kalamassery Metro station on Tuesday and has been availed by a private hospital for its staff and patients. The charter services will be conducted without affecting the existing feeder bus service, said a KMRL source. Currently, KMRL is operating feeder bus services on various routes, including MG Road-Marine Drive circular route. Eicher's 32-seater AC electric buses are used for these services, with the aim to provide last-mile connectivity and boost ridership of Kochi Metro. KMRL authorities expect the charter services to further boost ridership. "The charter services can be operated from any metro station to any destination within the permitted distance. Any firm or individual can book the service by submitting an application at KMRL office. The services are expected to be helpful for companies, groups and families planning city trips," said a source. The maximum distance per day will be 60km one way from any Metro station premises or Muttom e-bus depot. The service will be operational for a maximum of eight hours per day. KMRL authorities informed that a 10% discount would be offered for services availed beyond a month. Charges per day are Rs 24,000, and additional charges beyond 120 km will be Rs 100/km. Meanwhile, KMRL is yet to launch the Metro Connect services on Panampilly Nagar-Kadavanthra circular route.
