Hope still not lost for Kochi metro’s Kakkanad extension
The Hindu
Transportation experts for exploring cheaper alternative options
It would be premature to say that the 11.20-km-long Kakkanad (Infopark) extension of the Kochi Metro is in doldrums, although the Centre remained non-committal about extending financial assistance for the ₹1957-crore project, experts who held decisive positions in the urban transport sphere have said. At the same time, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) ought to look for cheaper options like metro neo, bus rapid transport (BRT), or a well-networked modern bus system, in case there are realistic fears like unpredictable patronage and a massive investment for a conventional metro being not worth it, they said. They were speaking on Thursday’s development in which, responding to a question by Adoor Prakash, MP, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore said in the Lok Sabha that the Centre had not taken a final decision on extending financial assistance for the project. He had further referred to the Centre’s assistance banking on aspects such as the metro’s extant policy, feasibility, and availability of resources.More Related News