Kochi Metro Reflects ‘Make in India’ Vision: Modi at Inauguration

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• PM Modi flagged off the Kochi Metro and took a ride on it along with other attendees
  
• In an address, Modi said Kochi Metro reflected the Make in India vision
  
• Reverting its original decision, the PMO invited ‘Metro Man’ E Shreedharan to the event
  

Updated at:17th Jun, 2017 at 1:22 PM

Watch PM Modi's Address from Kochi Metro Launch

PM Modi flagged off the Kochi Metro and took a ride on it along with Kerala Chief Minister Pinayari Vijayan, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Governor P Sathasivam, MP KV Thomas, Minister Thomas Chandy and Mayor Soumini Jain.

Updated at:17th Jun, 2017 at 1:22 PM

Kochi Reflects Make in India Vision

Addressing the attendees of the imaugural event, PM Modi heaped praises on the Kochi Metro.

Kochi, the queen of Arabian Sea was once an important spice trading centre. Today it is known as the commercial capital of Kerala. This metro project has several signification feature. It reflects the Make in India vision. They have been built by Alstom near Chennai, and have an Indian component of around 70 percent.

Thanking the people of Kochi, and CM Pinayari Vijayan, Modi said:

Kochi was selected as a Smart City in Round 1 of the challenge in January 2016. I hope it will do even better in the days to come.

Updated at:17th Jun, 2017 at 12:22 PM

PM Modi Takes a Ride on Kerala's First Metro

PM Modi flagged off the Kochi Metro and took a ride on the Kochi Metro along with Kerala Chief Minister Pinayari Vijayan, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Governor P Sathasivam, MP KV Thomas, Minister Thomas Chandy and Mayor Soumini Jain.

The metro will be open to the public on Monday.

Updated at:17th Jun, 2017 at 11:51 AM

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Updated at:17th Jun, 2017 at 11:29 AM

Launch Mired in Controversies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kochi’s INS Garuda Naval Station on Saturday to inaugurate the Kochi Metro.

Hailed as India's first integrated multi-mode transport system, the inaugural ceremony will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, as reported by ANI.

Kochi is the eighth city to get a metro rail, after Kolkata (1984), Delhi (2002), Bengaluru (2011), Jaipur (2013), Gurgaon (2013), Mumbai (2014) and Chennai (2015.)

The inaugural event has been mired in controversies since the PMO excluded E Sreedharan from the inaugural event. Sreedharan, popularly known as “Metro Man”, oversaw the construction work as the Principal Advisor of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

After the PMO’s decision was widely criticised, it reverted its decision.

Also Read: PMO Relents, ‘Metro Man’ Sreedharan Will Be on Kochi Stage

Updated at:17th Jun, 2017 at 11:33 AM

KMRL Thanks Migrant Workers, Hires Transgender Employees

After the completion of the project, Kochi Metro thanked all the 800 migrant workers who worked hard to complete the metro rail on time with a sadhya which is a traditional Kerala meal served on a banana leaf.

This is not the only noteworthy gesture. KMRL has also employed 23 transgender persons as ground staff, along with trying to keep the metro environment-friendly.

Also Read: What You Need to Know About Bengaluru’s New Metro Line

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Updated at:17th Jun, 2017 at 12:22 PM