The revenue authorities have fast-tracked land acquisition for Kochi Metro's Phase II, focusing on the proposed Pink Line connecting JLN Stadium to Infopark in Kakkanad. A 19(1) notification has been issued to acquire 0.1314 hectares of land for the Palarivattom Bypass Metro station at the intersection of NH 66 and the Palarivattom-Kakkanad Road near the Bypass Junction.

Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has previously issued notifications for land acquisition across nine other stations on the Pink Line. However, the process faced delays due to land ownership disputes. To address this, authorities extended the validity of earlier 11(1) notifications by six months starting October 31, as 19(1) notifications had only been issued for the Cochin SEZ and Chittethukara stations.

The Pink Line spans 11.2 km and will feature new Metro stations at Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamughal, Kakkanad Junction, Cochin SEZ, Chittethukara, Kinfra, and Infopark. KMRL aims to complete construction within 20 months, followed by an additional four months for system and signaling works.

The project promises to enhance connectivity and reduce congestion in one of Kochi’s fastest-growing regions. (ET)