Land acquisition and preliminary work for the elevated light-metro rail project proposed for Kochi would have progressed much by now, but for the Union Planning Commission opposing the execution of the project as a joint-venture between the Centre and the State. This leaves the city that is facing maddening traffic snarls with two options – either opt for a public-private partnership (PPP) or increase the percentage of loan to be taken from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The State Government is opposed to private participation since the cost of commuting would be very high, while a decision on the second option has not been taken. A senior official in the State Transport Department said that the Commission suggested a PPP model, whereas the State Government was keen on the joint-venture project on the lines of metro-rail projects in New Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. Hyderabad is the only city with metro-rail project in the PPP model. The Government was for the State and Centre pooling in equity in a 15:15 ratio. Similarly, the two entities could pool in funds on a 10:15 ratio for subordinate debts (like land acquisition and tax). The balance 45 per cent amount could be raised as loan from the JBIC. Transport planners say that metro-rail is the sole alternative for Kochi city, which is witnessing a phenomenal growth in traffic because of inadequate public transport. "The 650-odd private city buses cannot carry more than 8,000 passengers every hour per direction of traffic. A study carried out by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in 2005 had found that there would be 13,000 passengers per direction of traffic in Kochi by 2010. This would go up to 24,000 in 2025. The elevated light metro-rail envisaged for Kochi can carry this many passengers on completion and hence is a futuristic and feasible project aimed at decongesting Kochi. The Aluva-Ernakulam-Thripunithura corridor is the most suited since it has the most number of commuters," said an expert with decades of experience in the field. Asserting that the metro-rail is the sole way to overcome the chaotic traffic in Kochi, he said that a bus-rapid-transport system would not be feasible since city roads do not have the width to spare a lane just for buses. "The advantage of metro-rail is that the number of coaches in each train can be increased from the three that has been proposed, to up to nine when there is an increase in passengers during peak hours and festive seasons. This means, the metro would take care of the city's commuting needs for at least another 25 years." Aimed at speeding up the project, the District Administration had prevailed on the State Government to invoke the urgency clause for taking advance possession of the land required. With the Planning Commission opposing the State's proposal on funding, the much-delayed project has been held up further.
The Hindu, 7th November 2008
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