Kochi metro told to come clear on cost escalations
The Hindu
Revision of project cost from ₹5,182 crore to ₹6,218 crore for Aluva-Pettah corridor
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) must come clear on the revision of project cost from ₹5,182 crore to ₹6,218 crore for the 25-km phase-one Aluva-Pettah corridor, a year after the stretch was commissioned, and the revised estimate of over ₹1,000 crore for the 3-km Pettah-Thripunithura corridor, Thripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents Associations (TRURA) has said. The over Rs.1,000-crore increase in project cost for phase one is at odds with the metro agency’s claims that it was able to save ₹350 crore during the execution of the project, and that the saved amount would be used for the Pettah-SN Junction extension. Even worse, there is no assurance of road connectivity for further extension up to the Thripunithura railway station, contrary to the promise that road connectivity would be established from SN Junction, said V.C. Jayendran, convenor of the association. Applying the same logic, wherein the per km cost for the Thripunithura extension has more than doubled to over ₹300 crore per km, fear is rife that the metro’s 11.20-km Kakkanad extension cannot be realised for, what KMRL says as, ₹1,957 crore. “Members of the public could thus end up paying as much as ₹3,500 crore. All this could escalate the cost of metro phases one [and its A and B extensions to Thripunithura] and two to over ₹10,000 crore. Under this circumstance, an independent agency must probe the steep cost escalation,” said V.P. Prasad, chairman, TRURA.
Amol Palekar advocates against pre-censorship in films and theatre, urging the government to protect artists' freedom of expression.
BJP legislators demand release of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, threatening protests and border blockade if demands not met.
Odisha loses 790 elephants in a decade, with electrocution as the leading cause of unnatural deaths.
ASI issues notice to halt construction at Arya Akshobhya Teertha Mutt near Rameshwara temple in Shivamogga.
Madurai High Court orders removal of encroachments along Madurai-Dindigul highway, Corporation and Highways Department officials conduct joint operation.
Maharashtra Congress chief initiates signature campaign for return of ballot papers, sparking nationwide debate on EVMs.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner K. Vidyakumari on Wednesday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to undertake periodical maintenance of NH66 without giving room for complaints.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw updates Lok Sabha on Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. shareholding, Goa willing to relinquish.
One dies, eight hospitalised after inhaling HCL fumes at pharma company in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district. About 400 litres of HCL leaked from the reactor-cum-receiver tank at Unit-III of the company, which affected nine workers, says Collector. While the condition of six of them is stable, two are on ventilator support. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directs authorities to provide advanced treatment to the victims. Home Minister Anitha expresses anger over repeated such incidents.
Parents and social workers in Thoothukudi request new Anganwadi buildings due to unsafe conditions in current rental buildings.
Delta districts face heavy rainfall, prompting coordinated efforts to mitigate damages, with NDRF teams deployed for rescue operations.