The Union budget 2009-10 didn`t have any budgetary allocation for Kochi Metro Rail project. Even it didn`t mention about it. It was contrary to what the civic authorities of Kochi had expected. Kochi Metro Rail project was the part of Prime Minister`s 100 day package. Still, it was kept out of the purview of this year`s Union budget. The painful thing is that other Metro Rail projects at Bangaluru, Chennai and Kolkkatta got the due budgetary support and allocation except Kochi. Even Delhi Metro Rail Corporation got Rs.3000 crore for its mordenisation purpose and maintenance.This has spelt doom for the hopes of  Kochiites to have a Metro Rail project in Kochi. The only hope is that Government of Kerala has earmarked the fund for this mega project. But, will it be  enough to complete this ?

The argument of the traders that that metro sounds the death knell for their businesses defies logic. Yes, during the construction phase it would cause hardship to traders and more than half of M.G road would be non-usable.  But, this is a very short term view of things, especially for a public utility which is to re-define the city. In our opinion a re-alignment of the line passing through m.g road would take the meat out of the project and pretty much defeats the whole purpose. As such business is getting out of the CBD and moving to places like the bye-pass. Looking forward this one utility would be the only thing that would retain M.G road as the hub of business. Is that too difficult to figure out? World-wide if you look at the trends, it is typically around utilities like the metro that growth happens.

The government should stick to its guns and under no consideration allow a re-alignment. Kochi metro rail.