E Sreedharan Proposes 9-Km Mattancherry-To-Ernakulam Sky Metro In Kochi
Kochi, Kerala: Former Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director E Sreedharan recently proposed a sky-metro corridor in Kochi.
While speaking at an interview, Sreedharan, also known as Metro man, said proposed a suspended pod-based transport system for the route. He noted that once the project becomes reality, the travel time all it could take from Mattancherry to Ernakulam South railway station would be just 15 minutes, The New Indian Express reported.
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Sreedharan cited the sky metro system in Sharjah cited as model for the proposed corridor. Notably, Sreedharan estimates that the sky metro will cost less than `100 crore per kilometre, against more than `200 crore for an elevated metro line. He further urged the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) to study the system recently installed in Sharjah and prepare a detailed project report (DPR).
Sreedharan explained that the 9-km stretch will have 10 stations, including the two terminal stations. While supporting pillars can be placed at intervals of 200 to 300 m, the stations are proposed to be spaced precisely 1 km apart, he added, highlighting that the proposed line is expected to carry 300 passengers every 15 minutes.
Therefore, the project will have a capacity of 1,200 passengers an hour and 12,000 passengers over a 10-hour operating day. According to Sreedharan, the estimated cost of the sky metro will be less than C100 cr per km, against more than Rs 200 cr for an elevated metro line.
