PM Modi dedicates Kochi Metro to the nation

Agencies
June 17, 2017

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 17: Kerala shifted tracks to a new phase in urban transport infrastructure on Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating the first phase of Kochi Metro to the nation.

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Before the formal opening of the 13.26-km first phase, between Palarivattom and Aluva, the Prime Minister took a ride on one of the trains. Addressing a gathering at the inaugural event’s venue in Kaloor, Modi highlighted features of Kerala’s first metro rail network which made it unique.

Kochi Metro is the first metro project commissioned with Communication-Based Train Controlling Signalling System. The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has provided jobs for about 1,000 women and 23 trans-genders. “The project is also an example of environment-friendly development. It plans to meet nearly 25% of the entire energy requirements from renewable sources, particularly solar energy. The long-term plan is to become a zero-carbon emitting urban transit system,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi said 50 cities in the country were ready to implement metro rail projects and foreign investment had been invited to the urban public transport sector. He said the National Transit Oriented Development Policy, issued in April, aimed to create “compact walkable communities” and bring public transport closer to transit.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan acknowledged contributions of migrant labourers in the construction of the Metro and requested KMRL to facilitate a Metro ride for them. Lauding the project coordinators for finishing work on the Metro on schedule, the Chief Minister said Kochi Metro sent out a message to potential investors that development projects could be completed in a time-bound manner in Kerala.

He sought assistance from the Centre to further the state-Centre association to pursue the development agenda while acknowledging the Centre’s “positive” approach to development. In a veiled reference to earlier uncertainties over the Prime Minister’s presence at the event, Vijayan said people who created the controversy were left “disappointed”. Kochi Metro will begin commercial operations on Monday.

Insets

On track

** Construction completed in four years
** Total project cost of Rs 5,181.79 crore
** Rs 2032.91 crore released by GoI
** Total 25.612 km, fully elevated, from Aluva to Petta
** 22 stations; 11 in phase 1
** 13.26 km in phase 1, in 20 minutes
** A train every 10 minutes, fares start at Rs 10
** First-in-India open-loop smart card for buses, taxi-cabs, autos
** 25% of energy requirements from renewable sources
** Covered vertical garden on every sixth pillar
** Water Metro as feeder service planned with 38 jetties

Cheers to Metro man

At the inaugural event attended by senior politicians and bureaucrats, the loudest cheers from the 3,000-odd crowd were reserved for ‘Metro Man’ and Chief Adviser for Kochi Metro, E Sreedharan. The applause, every time his name was mentioned on the dais, was significant after an earlier controversy over his exclusion from the dais. The veteran engineer, however, was characteristically self-effacing in his response. “(the cheers were) Probably because I’m a local,” he told reporters.

Fracas over a "free ride"

The presence of BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan during the Prime Minister’s inaugural Metro journey has come in for some criticism. Rajasekharan was not in the original list of passengers scheduled to travel with Modi, from Palarivattom to Pathadippalam.

The PM was accompanied by Governor P Sathasivam, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Secretary Nalini Netto, Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba, E Sreedharan and KMRL Managing Director Elias George. Rajasekharan’s presence was criticised on social media, also because elected representatives were not invited for the ride.

Comments

Shankar
 - 
Sunday, 18 Jun 2017

BJP is trying really hard to make a mark in Kerala. They are using all the PR tricks known to them.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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