KOCHI: E Sreedharan, Principal Adviser, DMRC, has made the following clarification on some points raised in the article titled ‘The long-term impact of Kochi Metro rail’ by K M Devarajan published in ‘The New Indian Express’ on February 6. Sreedharan says: The reservations about an elevated Metro line expressed therein are natural to a common man who does not have a fair knowledge of Kochi city and the role of public transport. As a technocrat, I would have loved to take the Metro line fully underground but the cost involved would be three times the cost of the elevated system. Further, the operating and maintenance costs will also be at least 50 per cent more. Apart from the hazards involved in underground construction in the weak soil conditions of Kochi, construction of underground stations will have to be by open cut completely blocking the entire road width and even requiring largescale demolitions of buildings nearby. It is not merely the construction problems and costs that matter, eventually the Metro should not be a financial burden on the government or city. Considering all these facts only, DMRC proposed an elevated Metro system for Kochi. Even swank cities like Dubai and Singapore have gone for elevated Metros. Elevated Metros are not going to be more unaesthetic or intrusive than flyovers and elevated roads. Devarajan’s apprehensions about elevated Metro in Kochi are not, therefore, justified. Without a Metro, Kochi city cannot survive. Flyovers and elevated roads will only be short term solutions. They will only increase the number of vehicles on the road leading to atmospheric pollution and road accidents. Similar apprehensions were expressed by public in Delhi as well, but today the people of Delhi are very appreciative and happy with the Metro system provided. Only when the Metro is complete, the people will realise its importance and usefulness, Sreedharan concludes.
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