Kerala cracks Rs. 4,219-cr light metro project

In order to fast track the light metro project, the state government in Kerala has given nod for widening the congested Kazhakuttam-Kesavadasapuram stretch of NH-66 paving the way to accommodate the pillars of the Light Metro on the median and to construct flyovers at Sreekaryam and Ulloor areas. The administrative sanction issued by the government says that 6.75 hectares of private land will be acquired for widening the 8 km stretch that is part of the 21.8 km Reach I of the project, starting from Technocity to Karamana and entailing an investment of Rs. 4,219cr. Official sources said that the alignment had been fixed and the Kazhakuttam-Kesavadasapuram stretch would have a Right of Way (RoW) of 24 metres, while the NH-66 stretch from Kazhakuttam to Cherthala, to be four-laned by the National Highway Authority of India, will have a RoW of 45 m. A three-metre median on the centre of the road will be constructed to accommodate the pillars of the light metro. Meanwhile, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Principal Adviser, E. Sreedharan recently met the Minister for Public Works, G. Sudhakaran and demanded steps to expedite the light metro project for the capital and Kozhikode, said official sources.