Metro Rail: Dream may turn into nightmare

Completion of the Kochi Metro Rail Project will be a nightmare for around 200 families, who are to be evicted as part of the project. “The number of families likely to be displaced is approximately 200. The detailed work of the survey for exact land requirement, number of people likely to be displaced and rehabilitation packages, are in progress,” said Tom Jose, managing director, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, in a counter affidavit filed before the High Court.The number may go up as a survey for the land acquisition is yet to take place. “We could not properly identify the families who will have to be evicted as part of the implementation of the project,” metro rail project official said.In the affidavit, Jose pointed out that the city needed a rail-based metro system to meet the traffic requirements beyond 2016. A modern, efficient, reliable and environment-friendly Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) is needed urgently for the city. The proposed Kochi Metro Rail Project from Alwaye to Petta has 23 stations and would cover 25.612 kilometres. It would cover seven villages. The land requirement for the implementation of the project comes to an extent of 31.9216 hectares. It comprises of 9.3787 hectares of government land and 22.5413 hectares of private land, in which 70.62 per cent private land is to be acquired. Jose said that the required land would be acquired under Fast Track Procedure (FTP). He further stated that government had approved land acquisition.“As per the standard practice in other JICA-assisted projects like Delhi and Bangalore Metro, a general consultant will be engaged. The consultant will be responsible for preparing tender documents, detailed design and drawings and quality control during execution of the project. The work will be given through international and national competitive bidding,” Jose submitted.The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) engaged an in-house interim consultant. The general consultant will be engaged through competitive global tender. Choice and transfer of technology and availability of design and drawings will be at par or superior to that of Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai Metro. Detailed implementation plan will be prepared and Project Evaluation and Review Technique and Critical Pass Method network will be created for the execution of each activity of work. Implementation of the actual project will be done through more than one contractor, he added.