The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its nod for the implementation of the Kochi metro rail phase II project. The project will cost more than Rs 1,957 crore and will cover a length of 11.17 kilometre and 11 stations. The preparatory work for phase-II exercise including road widening is already underway.
The phase-I project which covers a stretch of 25.6 Km with 22 stations from Aluva to Petta is fully operational. The cost of phase 1 was Rs 5181.79 crore.
Infrastructure development is a major thrust for the Modi government, as it pushes economic growth in the post Covid phase.
Last week, Modi laid the foundation of projects worth Rs 3,800 crore in Mangaluru in Karnataka.
“Today’s India is focused on the development of state of the art infrastructure, since this is the road to developed India,” Modi said while addressing a large gathering in Mangaluru. He added that infrastructure development will create jobs and opportunities and that the PM Gati Shakti, a national master plan for multi-modal connectivity will be a game changer.
The PM Gati Shakti was launched last year and is aimed at bringing several ministries including railways and roadways together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) plans to develop 22 Greenfield Expressways, 23 key infrastructure projects, 35 Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) and other highways as part of the Prime Minister Gati Shakti National Master Plan.