Foundation stone laid for the Rs 5180-crore Kochi Metro-India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday underlined the need to meet modern urban challenges with tenacity and resolve. Laying the foundation stone for the Rs 5180-crore Kochi Metro here, he said, “The high speed of urbanization poses unprecedented managerial and policy challenges that we must address and respond to with courage and with determination.” “Under JNNURM, the Central government has sanctioned six projects at a total cost of over Rs. 509 crore, out of which the Central share will be more than Rs. 254 crore,” he announced. Kochi will be the eighth Indian city with a Metro network under construction. The newly-sanctioned Kochi metro line will run 25 km from Alwaye to Petta, and the Centre will contribute Rs. 1000 crore to the project. Underscoring the need for an efficient public transport system for “orderly growth and development” of cities, the Prime Minister said, “The Urban Development Ministry has taken several initiatives to promote sustainable transport practices in our country. These include support to Metro Rail Projects, Bus Rapid Transit Systems and sanction of city buses under the JNNURM.” “We have taken a decision to support preparation of Detailed Project Reports for Metro Rail projects in all the 19 cities with population of more than 2 million people. Detailed Project Reports for such projects have already been prepared for 12 cities,” he added. The Centre, he said, is also providing assistance for implementation of Bus Rapid Transit System projects in 11 cities with a network of over 437 km at a cost of more than Rs 5500 crore.

Meet urban challenges with courage and determination: Prime Minister