Title - Kochi’s master plan sans prestigious Metro project

KOCHI: If you thought our civic bodies serve the best interests of citizens, here's further proof that they are just hot air.The prestigious Kochi metro, which received the centre's nod last week after a near decade-long struggle, does not figure in the master plans of either the corporation or the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which has been moving heaven and earth for a berth on the director board of the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL). Even as the state is getting ready to begin the construction work, the corporation and the GCDA have maintained that they were clueless about developments associated with the project.Surprisingly, even a project such as the second phase of Marine Drive development, which has not even received the all important environmental clearance, figures in GCDA's Vision 2030 plan!The Kochi corporation, meanwhile, has claimed that they have not received metro's alignment and consequently has failed to include the same in their master plan. According to Kochi mayor Tony Chammany, the corporation does not have a clear picture regarding the alignment of Kochi metro. "Apart from holding discussions related to the construction of the North Railway Overbridge, and the agreement to provide nine cents of land near Town Hall, no major talks have been held between Kochi corporation and metro authorities. The corporation is yet to get the final alignment of the metro project," he said.

The corporation said they required the final alignment, including details of land required for stations and parking lots, and associated buildings. Town planning committee chairman K J Sohan pointed out the civic body required data regarding consumption of electricity, water and disposal of waste and debris. These details are required while including the project in the master plan for the city.

With many water, power and civic projects in various stages of planning and execution, the metro maze may turn out to be huge headache for the civic body, which also has the responsibility of clarifying doubts on the impact of construction activities. "It's equally important to know how vehicles, especially fire engines and ambulances, will travel through the city when the actual work begins. We have to bring in various government departments and agencies and work out a strategy. But this may take time," he added.

Though the corporation, nine neighbouring municipalities and 21 panchayats fall under the GCDA, the authority has not received updates about changes to metro's alignment. "The metro passes through regions which are under the GCDA. It is currently being executed as an isolated project. We have not included it in the Vision 2030 project," said GCDA chairman N Venugopal, adding that the plan includes the suburban railway scheme.