The Kerala government will provide Rs 11 crore to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) for immediate traffic improvement works in the city.
The government has directed KMRL to undertake a few selected road improvement works. The traffic along the main MG Road and Ernakulam-Alwaye road had been disrupted for the last couple of months due to the 24-hour work of the metro.
It now takes two hours to cover a distance of roughly 20 km, between Ernakulam and Alwaye. Besides, the roads are full of puddles during rainy days. The CPI(M) have criticised the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for not maintaining the main roads of the city. The CPI (M) alleged this was included in the contract between KMRL and DMRC, but the latter was not keen on timely repairing of the roads.
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To enable smooth progress of the work, 8 metres of the roads have been barricaded. This has affected the traffic and two-wheelers even use the walkways along the roads.
A meeting convened by chief minister Oommen Chandy for expediting the project also decided to issue order to take over 0.61 hectares of land of Apollo Tyres at Kalamassery for the metro rail station. Final orders will be issued by the government in a week regarding the land requirements at St Albert's College ground premises, as well as regarding the Greater Cochin Development Authority's request for compensatory land near the Marine Drive.