Kerala Chief Minister:No need for anxiety with regard to Kochi Metro project

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said there was no need for any anxiety with regard to land acquisition for the much delayed Kochi Metro Rail project, which is now estimated to cost about Rs 5000 crore. The land acquisition process has to be completed within six months. The government would be formulating a new land acquisition policy keeping in mind the hardships of those who were forced to surrender their land at Moolampally, he said.

Those giving land for development projects would be entitled to various concessions and would also get market value for their land, Chandy said addressing a high level meeting of ministers, MLAs and businessmen on the Kochi Metro Rail project. The Kochi metro would be a transparent project and all information would be available on the website. Within a month, an office of the project would be opened here, he said. The government had set apart Rs 25 crore for widening of the Thammanam-Pullepady road, which would be used to divert traffic once the North overbridge, the busiest in Kochi, is widened.

Union minister K V Thomas, state minsiters-- Aryadan Mohammed, K Babu, T M Jacob, V K Ibrahim Kunju, MLAs, MPs and Kochi Mayor Toni Chammany were among those who participated in the meeting. Electricity minister, Aryadan Mohammed said government's wish was to complete the project within 4 years once it gets clearance. According to estimates, the project cost could touch Rs 5000 crore, he said. Railway officials also took part in the meeting. The Kochi Metro, to be based on the Chennai model, is being planned to run between a 26 km stretch from Aluva to Tripunithura and is expected to ease traffic woes in the state's commercial capital.