LAND FOR KOCHI METRO STATION HANDED OVER

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) handed over 28 cents of land near its head office to the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) on Thursday, for constructing Kochi Metro’s Kadavanthra station.

The station will thus come up on the land which housed GCDA’s Nandanam park near the adjacent canal.

“KMRL has promised to do compensatory afforestation since the park has huge trees which will be cut down. It was among the few open spaces in the city having ample green cover,” a senior GCDA official said.

“We have assured GCDA that a very good station building will come up in the land. There will be minimal parking area too, for metro commuters,” said KMRL sources.

Kadavanthra is expected to be among the busiest of 23 stations proposed for Kochi Metro.

SREEDHARAN HOLDS TALKS

Close on the heels of differences emerging between the DMRC and KMRL on retendering the bid for purchasing 75 coaches for Kochi Metro, DMRC’s Principal Advisor E. Sreedharan held talks with Mr. George here on Thursday.