METRO STATION DESIGNS TO DRAW ON KERALA CULTURE

Kochi Metro’s stations will have design elements that are rooted in Kerala’s history and culture. Members of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) will design each of the 22 stations based on a regional theme. The detailed design consultant of the stations, Egis India, is expected to finalise the structural design of each station based on a common set of standardized parameters, within a month. IIA’s members will improvise upon them to give a regional flavour to the design.Thus, each station is expected to provide a different experience to commuters. A meeting of all stakeholders would be convened soon to finalise the details, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) sources said.Meanwhile, it is learnt that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will hand over the upkeep of Aluva-Edappally stretch on NH 47 to the KMRL for a period of three years when the metro’s construction works are on. This will be on the basis of an MoU signed between the two agencies.But the NHAI will carry out repairs of potholed portions of the stretch, before handing it over to the KMRL. The widening work of narrow portions of the NH is under way, to ensure four-lane traffic when barricades are erected for building the metro’s viaduct. This will be followed by tar coating of the widened areas.The design of each station is expected to provide a different experience to commuters.