RailEnquiry

KOCHI: To explore the possibilities of extending Kochi Metro to SmartCity, a team of officials of Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRL) and Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), a French agency that is expected to finance the project, visited the site of the IT project in Kakkanad on Saturday.After visiting the site, the team watched a presentation by SmartCity officials that suggested a possible alignment and other benefits."Last month, we had submitted a proposal to E Sreedharan to extend the metro. As far as we know, there are plans to extend the project up to the civil station area. SmartCity is just two kilometres away from there. I think they liked our presentation," said a SmartCity official, adding that Edachira and Brahmapuram were the two likely spots for the metro station.As per the presentation by company engineers, SmartCity would directly hire more than one lakh personnel over the next eight years.Professionals employed in indirect jobs would be around 3 lakh and with the completion of Infopark's second phase, the total employment may reach 5 lakh. Sources said that extending the Metro could ease the traffic problems.Considering the potential growth of traffic in the area, the state government has already decided to construct two four-lane highways through the area. One of the four-lane highways will connect SmartCity and NH 49 at Puthencruz via Brahmapuram and Karimugal.

The other route will ensure connectivity through MC Road at Perumbavoor via Kizhakkambalam and Pattimattom.

But the SmartCity authorities are of the opinion that these roads alone won't serve the purpose.

"The government is yet to fix the time frame for construction of these roads. So, extension of the metro project would be the best solution," an official said.