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Rs. 150 Crore for Kochi Metro Rail Project

  • Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram: K M Mani in his Budget speech of 2012-2013 allotted Rs. 150 crores for the much awaited Kochi Metro project. The minister also stated that the project will start construction from next year. K M Mani’s budget gives much importance for the infrastructural development of Kerala.

  • Earlier in the Union Budget, Central Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had allocated Rs. 60 crores for the project. The fund announced by the Centre is meager considering the Rs. 5,400 crore worth mega project. However, this is a positive move from the Central Government, which by announcing funds seems to give its ‘in principle approval’ for Kochi Metro project.According to sources, the allotted funds will be used for the ongoing constructions, thus effectively speeding up the work. The metro transit project can create a huge financial burden if it lags like a usual Government project.

  • Finance minister K M Mani has also sanctioned Rs.20 crores for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode monorail projects. He also said that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) would assist in the development of both the Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode monorail systems. The high speed railway corridor has also been allocated Rs.50 crores for its preliminary work.

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