Kochi:
The Kochi Metro Board today decided to have three coaches in each train with a total carrying capacity of 1,000 passengers.
The decision in this regard was taken at a board meeting near Kochi.
Later briefing reporters, Urban Development Secretary and KMRL Chairman Sudheer Krishna said it has been decided to have three coaches with a total carrying capacity of 1,000 passengers. The trains would be run in five minutes gap.
The average speed of the train would be 34 km per hour, he said, adding the maximum speed would be 80 km per hour. The platforms would be 70 metres long. The meeting also approved the names of all the 22 stations.
The Kochi Metro board also decided to look at funding options beyond JAICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and French financial agency AFD (Agence Francaise de Development) by seeking loans from national and international agencies, Krishna said.
The land acquisition proceedings were going on smoothly, he said, adding some small issues have to be ironed out by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Railways.
The board also approved the budget of Kochi Metro for the financial year 2013-14 and the tripartite MoU to be signed between government of India, Kerala government and KMRL.
The key business of this board meeting was a detailed evaluation of the time lines and the schedules for project execution by DMRC.
The Board also approve the appointment of Ved Mani Tiwari as Director (System), who will be responsible for rolling stock, signalling related aspects. Director S D Sharma, who will be the representative of the DMRC of Kochi Metro Board and the newly posted Chief Secretary, E K Bharat Bhushan, also participated in the meeting.