In conversation with Elias George, MD of Kochi Metro Rail Limited on the week old Kochi Metro project and what’s in store next
Compiled Text: Rochelle D’Souza Photos: Various sources
Behind the much raved about Kochi Metro project stands a man who has chosen to stay out of the limelight and direct all of his energy and attention towards ensuring that the project lives up to its purpose and to the expectations of the people. FWD Business managed to get an exclusive interview with the man of the moment, Kochi Metro MD Elias George IAS following the official inauguration of the project on Saturday, June 17, 2017.
Q. What is your initial reaction now the metro has been completed and is up and running?
A. Well, for starters, a lot of elation, and a sense of fulfilment because it’s been four years of work not just by my team but by all the stakeholders of the metro. The whole city has participated in the journey, people have suffered a lot in terms of traffic blocks, land lost, but at the end of the day everyone is happy with the results I feel. We’re very proud to have delivered a world class product to this city which is one of the most beautiful metros in the world in terms of the trains and the stations and the work we are going to ensure that it’s a truly green metro. I think in about two to three years Kochi is going to be one of the most beautiful and convenient and well-connected cities in the world – truly a global city – and having a role to play in this transformation is a moment of high elation for me and for all of us at KMRL.
Q. What sets Kochi Metro apart from all the other metros in the country?
A. Kochi Metro stands out in the sense that we do things that no other metro in the world is doing like how recycled waste is going to be used as manure in the vertical gardens being created on the metro pillars, quarter of our energy is going to come from solar, we’ve included and anti-poverty initiative on board the metro by giving employment to over a 1000 Kudumbashree women and transgenders. The water metro and the metro are going to be one system and that will make us the only metro in the world where a part of the metro system will be boats on the water with the same look, feel and experience as the metro. We’re also creating a lot of walkways and cycle paths and plan to hard sell non-motorized transport in the city. Our ultimate aim is to make public transportation so convenient, seamless and comfortable that for travel within the city, you’d prefer to leave your cars at home.
Q.What’s in store next for Kochi Metro?
A. Now that one stage has been completed we are going to move into getting the rest of it done and go down to Thripunithara fast and then bring in the Kakkand connection, which is our phase two. The Kakkanad connection is pending with the Government of India. We had sent in the proposals about a month back but now that the PM and the Union Minister has been to Kochi and seen the progress we’ve made and even travelled on the metro, we are expecting it to gain speed. The Water Metro should start seeing results on the ground in about two years’ time. So basically in about three years Kochi is going to look completely different. It will not be what it is right now.
Q. When will the Metro line till Petta be functional?
A. It should take about two years. It got into a little delayed situation because of the issue of land acquisition. There was a new act that came into play which made things a little complicated but now things are gaining momentum. In about two years we’ll be able to travel from Aluva to Petta.
Q. KMRL did not just build and run a metro but are also looking at creating and beautifying spaces in the city and developing non-motorized transport. Can you tell us a little more about that?
A. The one thing that willtake place in the city with the coming of the metro is that it will encourage people to walk or cycle because the distance between the station and the place that you either go to or come from is most often very short. And in India, one of the biggest disadvantages in the cities is that people can’t walk or cycle in peace. We wanted to do some demonstration projects like – Streetscape – the one we did in Panampilly Nagar, that people find an experience and infrastructure so good that you will walk want to walk or cycle around. There is a difference in the English language between the words ‘street’ and ‘road’. Streets aren’t meant just for traffic but also for people who want to walk and take in the air or cycle around and a road is just something that takes you from a point A to a point B. So what we aim to do is convert the roads in Kochi into streets.
Q. You are also heading the SmartCity project. Will SmartCityand KMRL be working in tandem?
A. Many of the SmartCity elements are being carried out or implemented by KMRL and now that the metro is running and our work load has eased KMRL will start focussing on the SmartCity projects.