Kochi metro on a move for a greener, pollution-free Kochi

Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) will not only run the Metro in three years but is also going to make the city greener and pollution- free.

Kochi is one of the most popular commercial hub and a tourist paradise in Kerala.  According to estimated figures, Present Population of Kochi city is 624,859. There are more than 2,277,620 people living in Total Metropolitan Area of Kochi. Think about the number of vehicles for these many people. The number of vehicles in the city has increased from 95,488 in 2010 to 1,11,284 in 2011. As on August 31, 2012, the total number of vehicles registered in Ernakulam is 5,38,712. The studies pointed out that two-wheelers constituted the major share of vehicle population in the district with a share of over 59%. With the above statistics, can you imagine how much pollution are we causing to our small city?

Metro rail, as we all know, when commissioned, can reduce approximately 80% of the pollution caused by vehicle. This can only be possible if more people use public transport system. And that is exactly what our Government is aiming at. They are literally shaping up a new Kochi. The existing public transport modes like buses, auto rickshaws, boat services, etc., will all be modified, so as to benefit the most to the commuters who rely on it.

Not just that, KMRL is also on a move to make the city greener. KMRL will launch a three-layered environment conservation programme soon with the support of green groups, NGOs and big corporates. A detailed project report and budget for this green initiative will be finalised soon.

The first part of the programme will be distributing saplings to major institutions including schools, colleges and offices in the city. The KMRL is also planning to partner with public sector companies and other big institutions in the state which have vast areas of vacant land. “We, along with big institutions across the state, will plant trees in the available land and will nurture them.

The programme has much significance as environment activists have raised serious concerns over the possible loss of green cover to make way for the Metro project. Nearly 467 trees in various parts of the city have to be cut for the project.

Imagine, A smarter Kochi with efficient, most modern facilities that too without losing the city’s beauty. Being the real ‘Queen of the Arabian sea’ is not too far.

Source: http://kochimetro.org/kochi-metro-on-a-move-for-a-greener-pollution-free-kochi/

Kochi Metro to be given higher assistance

The French financial agency  Agence Francaise de Development (AFD)   has in principle agreed to enhance the funding of kochi metro  to 180 million euros (amounting to Rs 1,400 crores)30 million up from the initial offer of  150 million euros. The agency’s offer of Rs 1,400 crores at 2% interest comes with tenure of 20 years and a moratorium of 9 years. The original cost of the Kochi Metro project was 5181.79 crores, but this later increased to 5537.25crores.  The Central Government will make a contribution   of 1002.23 crores, the Government of Kerala will contribute 1772.23 crores and 2174 crores were to be raised from external agencies as loan.

The Director Board of Kochi Metro Rail Limited entrusted MD, KMRL to find alternate funding options for the project as advised by DEA (Department of Economic Affairs). As part of it, Representatives of Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) met the KMRL team on 18th & 19th of March, 2013. The agency had detailed discussions with KMRL MD Elias George and other senior officials. They also visited the project alignment from Aluva to Petta to understand the project better.  Based on the inputs received from the pre-appraisal mission team of AFD, a formal detailed- appraisal mission team visited Kochi from 25th- 27th April, 2013.

The team led by Xavier Hoang, AFD’s senior transport expert  did a detailed analysis of the project and expressed satisfaction on its progress. It also held discussions regarding the funding of the project. As a follow up to this, the next appraisal mission of AFD would be visiting the city on September 16. The AFD team that will visit Kochi in September mainly intends to analyze the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy and the socio-environmental aspects of the Metro Rail.  It is expected that the proposal would be considered by the Board of AFD slated for November 2013 and the loan agreement between KMRL and AFD would be signed on February 2014.For the remaining external borrowing for the project, KMRL is pinning its hopes on the loan from the Japan International Co-operation Agency.

Source: http://blog.kochimetro.org/2013/08/31/afd-to-give-higher-assistance-for-kochi-metro/