News Brief

The Kochi Metro
The construction of the Kochi Metro’s extension from Palarivattom to Kakkanad achieved a major breakthrough on Friday (24 October), as Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) began installing girders for the viaduct section.
The first girder, a 170 ton U-shaped structure, was positioned between pillars 284 and 285 along the Infopark Expressway in Kakkanad.
Manufactured at KMRL’s casting yard in Kalamassery, the massive girder was transported to the site using a multi-axle trailer and lifted into place with a heavy-duty crane.
Girder installation along the Infopark Expressway would continue over the coming days as part of the rapid progress being made on the Pink Line, Asianet reported.
So far, construction of 65 pillars near the proposed metro stations at SEZ, Alinchuvadu and Vazhakkala has been completed, with pier caps installed on 18 of them.
KMRL also confirmed that work on 1,135 piles including 875 for the metro line and 260 for station buildings has been finished.
Tendering for track construction is currently under way, as the viaduct work nears completion.
The Pink Line, stretching 11 km from JLN Stadium to Infopark is designed to connect the city’s central areas with its fast-growing IT hub.
The project, estimated at Rs 1,957.05 crore, has been awarded to Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, with a construction timeline of 20 months.