Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday June 17,2017 inaugurated the Kerala’s first Metro rail and took an inaugural ride onboard the train with dignitaries, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan.
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Kerala BJP chief Kummanam Rajashekaran are also accompanying the Prime Minister.
Futuristic infrastructure that will contribute to India's growth...PM @narendramodi and other dignitaries on the Kochi Metro.
The Prime Minister cut the ribbon of the much-awaited project at Palarivattom station and took a ride on the newly constructed rapid transport from the station of Palarivattom to Pathadippalam.
With 11 stations covering nearly 13 km - from Palarivattom to Aluva - this is the longest first phase of a metro to be inaugurated.
Claimed to be the country's first integrated multi-model transport system, it is expected to improve regional connectivity and ease the traffic congestion in Kochi, the commercial hub of Kerala.
The 13-km stretch runs between Aluva and Palarivattom
— It is the first Metro system in the country with an integrated multi-model transport system.
— In the inaugural trip, PM Modi and other dignitaries, including ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan, will ride from Palarivattom to Pathadippalam.
— Yogesh Saini and Sumit Kumar will be the Train Operators for PM's journey, a KMRL spokesperson said. Pawan Kumar and Anil Kumar will be there supporting them from the drivers' cabins.
— The Rs 5,181-crore project has been praised for its social initiatives, including the employment of 23 transgenders.
— A unique aspect of its Metro stations will be the deployment of members of Kudumbashree, a women empowerment-oriented, community-based self-help group.
— Kudumbashree will provide a vast array of services from customer relations, crowd management, housekeeping and catering services, which once operational, will be the largest crew of women to be employed by any Metro.
— Women will also be seen behind the Metro wheel. Of the 39 locopilots employed, seven are women.
— KMRL MD Elias George said around 25% of the energy needs will be met by solar power. Besides, the pillars of the Metro line will also be converted into vertical gardens and will use recycled municipal waste.
— The KMRL had organised a traditional sadya (feast) for its workers ahead of Saturday’s inauguration
Note
The Kochi Metro is set to become India's eighth inter-city metro rail project on Saturday. It is 13-km long and has been built at a cost of Rs 5,181-crore.
Completion in record time: The Kochi Metro is the longest first phase metro operation in the country. It took the shortest time — 45 months — to be commissioned into service. While Mumbai Metro took 75 months to finish its first 11-km run, Chennai Metro took 72 months for completion of its first phase of 4 km
Eco-friendly: Keeping with the best environmental practices, the Kochi Metro is the first metro service in the country to use solar power to meet a quarter of its electricity requirement. One in every 23 stations will have solar panels, which will generate 2.3 megawatts (MW)and plans to build a 4 MW solar plant are being considered, which could meet as much as half of its electricity demands through solar power. Also, at every sixth of the 4,000-odd metro pillars, the government plans to build a vertical garden that will use recycled municipal waste. The metro is also expected to offer bicycles to its commuters for free at every station for passengers to ride around the city.
The Metro Corporation is also planting saplings on the medians of highways and some pillars between stations, as a part of its Green Kochi Scheme.
Women at the forefront, transgenders too: A majority of its workforce will comprise women. Kochi Metro will be the first state-owned company to give employment to a large number of transgenders. They will be hired for different operations ranging from ticketing to maintenance.
Themed stations: While one of the stations, CUSAT, has a water-theme, paintings of aquatic animals line the walls of Pathadippalam station. Muttam is themed on birds while Palarivattom station has floral interiors
Disabled friendly coaches: The metro rail service not only have special provisions to provide wheelchairs, but it will also have reserved seats for people with disabilities. Seats for women with children, children and the elderly have specially coloured marked by the Metro administration.
Free wifi: In a first for any metro in the country, the Kochi Metro’s coaches and its stations will have free wi-fi.
Chenda in coaches: There are reports that doors of its coaches will either open or close to the music of Chenda, Kerala’s traditional percussion instrument.
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