Proposal to include flyover construction under JNNURM
The Kochi Corporation authorities will soon submit a proposal before
the Centre to include the construction of flyovers at Vyttila,
Palarivattom and Kundannoor under the additional funding scheme
announced for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM)
projects.
The decision was taken by the Kochi Corporation Council
on Friday. A resolution in this regard was also passed by the council.
The estimated cost for the flyovers as per the initial assessment is Rs
67 crore for Palarivattom, Rs 73 crore for Kundannoor and `93 crore for
Vyttila. “For JNNURM projects, the Union Government will provide 50 per
cent of the total project cost. Out of the remaining 50 per cent, the
State will provide 30 per cent while the respective local bodies will
have to bear 20 per cent. Since Kochi Corporation is not in a financial
position to contribute the 20 per cent, we will request the state
government to bear our share too. If the State is ready ready to pump in
our share, we will be able to make the JNNURM funds available for the
project,” said Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany.
However, the Centre
will not provide funds for land acquisition and the Mayor said the civic
body hoped that the state government would bear the cost of the land
acquisition. Apart from the flyover projects, some other key
infrastructure projects will also be submitted before the Centre for
consideration under the additional funding package for JNNURM. These
projects include the ambitious Ring Road project mooted by the Greater
Cochin Development Authority (GCDA). The GCDA has already earmarked `6
crore for the first phase of the project which will cover 10.50-km
between Chatiath and Varapuzha. The road will pass through Vaduthala,
Pachalam and Kadamakudy.
In order to develop a feeder system to
the Kochi Metro Rail, the Corporation will also submit a project to
boost the existing water transport network. The Broadway renovation
project and Heritage Conservation project for Fort Kochi and Mattanchery
will also be submitted under additional funding scheme. A drainage
system for East Kochi and the sewage treatment plant are the other major
projects.
