Kochi Metro finalizes concept design for stations on new line

KOCHI: The eleven stations which will come up on the 11.2km elevated corridor from JLN Stadium to Kakkanad during the implementation of Phase II of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) would have eco-friendly architectural designs that symbolize sustainability.
KMRL has completed the concept design of all the eleven stations which would be finalized by the design consultants.Six firms have submitted bids for the detailed design consultant (DDC) contract for the new extended line.

Among the eleven stations on the new line, Infopark station would be the biggest one.
'Green design' would be the major attraction of the Infopark Station, which will have multiple features, including conference areas, as per the designs that were made available to TOI by KMRL officials.
The stations on the new line would come up at JLN Stadium, Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamugal (formerly Kunnumpuram), Kakkanad Junction, Cochin SEZ (Special Economic Zone), Chittethukara, KINFRA (formerly Rajagiri), and InfoPark / Smart City (connected to Kochi Water Metro).
MD of KMRL Loknath Behera said all stations would have locality-based design models. "We have already finalized our concept. But the final designs would be prepared by the DDC," he said, adding that KMRL has given priority to commuters' convenience while designing the stations.
"Unlike Phase I, minimal design would be the speciality of Phase II," he said.
KMRL had issued tenders for the DDC contract days ago. This consultancy contract is the third significant pre-construction contract for the new line. KMRL expects the assigned DDC to be on board for about 2.5 years.
The six bidders are AYESA Ingenieria Y Arquitectura, Consulting Engineers Group Ltd (CEG), Egis Rail, Rajeev Garg, STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd, and TD Engineering and Consulting Pvt Ltd.
The bids are being sent for technical evaluation and the process would be completed within two months. After completing this, the financial bids of the technically qualified bidders will be opened to select the lowest bidder for the design consultant.
In March, KMRL had cancelled the general consultant tender after the winning bidder placed a bid significantly higher (59%) than KMRL's estimate. The tender would be re-issued soon.
KMRL has already begun the construction of the entry and exit works of Kakkanad and SEZ stations. Tamil Nadu-based Chendur Infrastructure is undertaking these works. Rs 30 crore is the estimated cost of the work. A KMRL source said that the entry and exit works are not part of station construction at Kakkanad and SEZ.
It was on September 1, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Phase II corridor of the Metro. On March 29, the state cabinet had accorded administrative sanction for the revised estimate of Rs 1,957 crore for the new line.