RailEnquiry

Finally, the second phase of Kochi metro will begin this week. The government will distribute the compensation to those people, who have agreed to surrender their land for the preparatory works of Kochi Metro,
within a couple of days. Revenue department officials said that land on MG Road, Banerji Road and South can be taken over immediately.
    Till date, the preparatory work has been limited to the reconstruction of the North railway over-bridge. Once land acquisition is complete, authorities can start work on the metro route. The districtlevel purchase committee, which met on Monday, had agreed to distribute 80% of the compensation to land owners this week. “Once compensation is given, the government can take over the land immediately. We expect to complete all procedures this week itself,” said deputy collector Mohandas Pillai.
    At the same time, revenue officials have not issued the notification for acquiring land along the Aluva-Petta stretch. The revenue department has already completed survey in seven villages along the stretch. “We have completed the survey in Aluva, Thrikkakkara North, Edappally North, Edappally South, Ernakulam, Elamkulam and Punithura villages. But, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) wants more land to provide parking space and a repair yard,” Pillai said.
    The revenue department will be able to issue the 4 (1) notification, prior to land acquisition, only after the KMRL gives the details like the extent of additional land to be acquired.
    Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) has already submitted a report to KMRL on the expected passenger turnout and parking facilities. But KMRL hasn’t informed the revenue department about the points where parking lots will be constructed. “We can issue a composite notification if KMRL says how much more land is required,” said a revenue department official. As per the earlier survey, the total requirement of land along Petta-Aluva stretch is around 31.98 hectares.