RailEnquiry

KOCHI: Work of metro rail along Kaloor-South stretch could begin within a month, according to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials.The company entrusted with the work along the stretch has already held a meeting with the DMRC before taking the plunge.DMRC officials said the work would begin with soil testing. "Soil from the area will have to be sent for lab tests first. Then only piling works can be started. In the meantime, we expect to remove various utility lines passing through MG Road and widen the road,'' a DMRC official said."Widening the road and work of drain and utility cable duct along Kacheripady-North stretch on town hall side can be completed by July-end,'' he said.Admitting the delay in the completion of work along the stretch, the official said the work could have been completed much earlier had the revenue department acquired and handed over the land required for it. "Objections by land owners regarding the land had resulted in the delay. Now, the revenue department has informed that all the hurdles have been cleared,'' he said.According to Kerala Water Authority (KWA) officials, the department has already handed over the proposal of shifting various pipelines and sewage lines from the carriageway of MG Road to DMRC. "In fact, we had to carry out the work. But if we do the work, it may get prolonged due to various procedures to be completed before tendering process. So, DMRC will carry out the work under our supervision,'' a KWA official said.

Hindustan Machine Tool (HMT) has handed over five acres to DMRC for setting up casting yard for metro rail at Kalamassery, while Cochin Port Trust gave its land near Alexander Parambithara Road for the same purpose. Casting work for Kaloor-South and South-Vyttila stretches will be carried out on Port Trust's land.