Kochi Metro races into record books clocking a national mark

KOCHI: The extension of Kochi Metro’s service to Maharaja’s Ground which is to fructify with the inauguration of Reach II on Tuesday will add another feather to the cap of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL). After its launch in June 2013 by the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,  the Metro’s  Reach  I  from Aluva to Palarivattom was commissioned in June this year.Now, the second phase has been launched within a mere four months of the Reach I becoming operational which means the entire 18.5 km stretch has been completed in four years and three months, a national record.

The stupendous nature of KMRL’s achievement can be gauged if the  Kochi Metro’s commissioning is contrasted with the other Metro projects in the country. The first stretch of Delhi Metro(DMRC)  was completed in four years and two months with a total length of 8.5 km .The Bengaluru Metro’s first reach of 6 km was completed in five years while Chennai Metro’s first phase of 4 km was completed in six years. The 9.2 km Jaipur Metro was completed in four years and eight months while in Mumbai, it took six years and three months for the completion of the 11.07 km stretch.

Metro Green Run

A Metro Green Run was organised by the KMRL on Monday to mark the entry of Metro Rail services into the city centre. The race  started  from the Durbar Hall Ground at 6.30 am and proceeded towards the JNI Station at Kaloor. Mayor Soumini Jain flagged off the marathon in which nearly 400 people took part.
The green marathon was organised by KMRL as part of its efforts to promote environment-friendly initiatives. The theme of the marathon was ‘promotion of non-motorised transport’. The event was organised in association with ‘Souls of Cochin’.