FUNDING UNDER JNNURM
Kochi Corporation is
hopeful that the Union
government will accommodate
its Vytilla bus
terminal-cum-mobility hub project
under JNNURM. The
approval for possible funding
under the scheme is expected by
mid-September. The cost of the
preliminary phase of the project
is estimated at
121 crore.
The project is, however, likely to
be implemented with private participation
if JNNURM funds are
not fully available.
KITCO Ltd (formerly Kerala
Industrial and Technical Consultancy),
the project consultant, has
drawn up a plan for parking city
buses in the basement and other
buses on the first floor of the bus
terminal. The plan also comprises
parking lots for private vehicles
and autorickshaws.
KITCO is currently preparing
the tender documents. About 15
companies had submitted prequalification
documents in June
this year. The award of the contract
has been delayed as the Kerala
government's approval is mandatory
at every stage of the project.
Meanwhile, construction of two
flyovers by KITCO at Vytilla junction,
a rapidly expanding commercial
part of city, has been held
up after NHAI invited fresh tenders
for preparing project reports
for four flyovers-at Vytilla, Palarivattom,
Edapally and Kundanoor.
The proposed bus terminal,
where long-distance and mofussil
service buses would converge, will
also be linked to a railway halt at
Vytilla or Ponnurunni. Passenger
ferries will be operated from the
jetty proposed to be constructed at
the eastern end. A skywalk will
link the terminal with the metrorail
station proposed on the northwestern
side of Vytilla junction.