On the anvil: Next phase of Kochi Metro
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, highlighted on 14 Feb 2021 this year’s budget allocation of over Rs.163,000 crore for 190-km of the Chennai Metro Rail Phase II while flagging off Japanese-supported Phase I extension in the southern state capital.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has lent 57% of the Rs.3,770 crore of Phase I extension. The rest 43% came from the Central and State Governments. With this extension, the Phase I covers a total length of 54.05-km from the north Chennai locality to the airport in the south.
Modi dedicated to the nation the Chennai Beach-Attipattu fourth line and the Railway electrification of Villupuram Cuddalore-Mayiladuturai Thanjavur-Mayiladuturai-Tiruvarur Single Line Sections.
He also laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras. It will be located near Thaiyur and built at an estimated cost of Rs.1,000 crore in the first phase over an area of 2 lakh sqm and the extension, renovation and modernisation of the Grand Anicut Canal System.
Among other industrial developments, Modi handed over to the Army, the home-made Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A). The state-of-the-art Arjun tank has been indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO)’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) at Avadi along with 15 academic institutions, eight labs and several MSMEs.
Also inaugurated were the Propylene Derivative Petrochemical Project (PDPP) and Sagarika, the International Cruise Terminal at Kochi.
Among new developments the in southern States of Indian is the next phase of Kochi Metro.
Prime Minister said capacity building and future ready infrastructure are two important factors for national development. As such, the development works of ‘Vigyan Sagar” and reconstruction of the South Coal Berth will contribute to both these factors. Vigyan Sagar, the new knowledge campus of Cochin Shipyard would particularly help those wanting to study marine engineering. South Coal Berth would bring down logistics costs and improve cargo capacities.
Outlining the country’s plan for development of the Blue Economy, Modi said, “our vision and work in this sector includes: more ports, improving infrastructure in current ports, offshore energy, sustainable coastal development and coastal connectivity”. #tenders #projects #infrastructure #metro /fiinews.com
