Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday, while replying to a submission by MLA VP Sajeendran in the state assembly, that the state government can only initiate further steps to implement the second phase of Kochi Metro project once they get an approval nod from the Centre.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government has been asked by the central government to resubmit a detailed project report (DPR) incorporating changes based on the new Metro policy announced by the Centre. The state government had set aside Rs 189 crore for the second phase of Kochi Metro Project, from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark.
“The DPR prepared in February 2018 is under the consideration of the state government,” he said.
He also confirmed that necessary steps will be taken as soon as possible, once the detailed project report is submitted to the central government and the required permission is granted.
He also added that the district administration has been asked to initiate the Social Impact Assessment for the next phase.
The state government had submitted the DPR in May 2017, when the government was granted a sum of Rs 2,577.25 crore for the project. The government was asked to submit the DPR once again as the union government had come out with a new metro policy.
He also added that for land acquisition, Rs 20 crore has been set apart as per a September 20, 2017 government order.
Meanwhile the state has seen many reports on the income and expenditure disparities in the metro projects in the state. Amidst such reports the latest one holds that the transportation service is making a daily collection of Rs 12 Lakh.
Kochi Metro Rail Authorities gave away the figures in response to an RTI that was filed by Greater Cochin Development Watch.
The authorities also revealed that Aluva, Edapally and Maharajas were three stations that accounted to 60 per cent of the revenue.