Title - Kochi Metro to get 20 acres from PWD

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The revenue department has agreed to transfer 20 acres of land in Kanayannur taluk in Kochi to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), so that it can be developed for commercial purposes to generate additional income. The land is currently under the possession of PWD.The proposal, all formalities of which have been cleared by an empowered committee led by chief secretary K Jayakumar, is awaiting the final cabinet nod. "The idea is to generate additional income for the KMRL. For that, an effective business model is under consideration," top government sources told TOI.Initially, the KMRL had sought the 33 acres in Vazhakkala village, where government offices, NGO quarters, flats and a PWD rest house were located. The PWD agreed to hand over the land to the KMRL, on conditions that residential complexes should be built for government employees, living in the residential quarters there.The finance department had also agreed to the proposal, but raised certain demands regarding the value of land. "Finance has no objection to the transfer of land, subject to the condition that the value of land shall be adjusted against the 15% equity contribution of the state government in the project," it said.Though the KMRL had sought the land for a lease period of 99 years, the revenue department agreed only for a 30-year lease, citing existing laws.

The proposal was cleared by the chief minister on June 26 this year, who had asked the chief secretary to finalize the terms on which the land should be transferred to KMRL.

The empowered committee, which met on July 16 this year, decided that 20 acres would be transferred to KMRL, and the remaining 13 acres would be vested with the PWD itself for accommodating government employees. The revenue department had forwarded the matter to the cabinet with several queries, including whether relaxation has to be given to the KMRL in the usual terms of lease assignment. Though the matter was considered by the state cabinet on Tuesday, it sought clearance over some points, sources said.Thiruvananthapuram

The revenue department has cleared all decks to transfer 20 acres of land in Kanayannur taluk in Kochi under the possession of PWD to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), for using it for commercial purposes as part of income generation.

The proposal, all formalities of which were cleared by an empowered committee led by chief secretary K Jayakumar, is awaiting the final nod from the cabinet.

The KMRL had sought 33 acres of land with the PWD in Vazhakkala village. The idea was to find additional ways of revenue generation other than from plying the metro project. "The idea is to generate additional income for the KMRL. For that, an effective business model was under consideration," top government sources told TOI.

The PWD had expressed their willingness to hand over the land to the KMRL, on conditions that alternate residential complexes should be built to house government employees who are at present housed in residential quarters in the proposed land. The land presently houses government offices, NGO quarters, flats and PWD rest house.

Finance department also had agreed to the proposal but had raised certain demands about the value of land. "Finance has no objection to the transfer of land subject to the condition that value of land shall be adjusted against the 15 % equity contribution of the state government in the project," it had said.

The total value of the land was calculated at Rs 168 crore. Though the KMRL had sought the land for a lease period of 99 years, the revenue department had agreed to extend the lease period only for a maximum of 30 years, citing the existing lease laws.

The proposal was cleared by the chief minister on June 26 this year, who had asked the chief secretary to finalise the terms on which the land should be transferred to KMRL. The empowered committee which met on July 16 this year, decided that 20 acres would be transferred to KMRL, and the remaining 13 acres would be vested with the PWD itself for the purposes of retaining accommodation for government employees.

The revenue department had forwarded the matter to the cabinet with several queries to be decided by the cabinet, including whether relaxation has to be given to the KMRL in the usual terms of lease assignment. Though the matter was considered by the state cabinet on Tuesday, the matter was deferred seeking clearance over some points, sources said.