Kochi, 13 December 2016
H.E. Mr Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, has visited the construction sites of the Kochi metro as well as Muttom depot, on 13th December 2016, along with Mr Elias George, Managing Director of KMRL, and Mr Nicolas Fornage, Regional Director for South Asia - French Development Agency (AFD).
This visit came ahead of a new funding of 180 million euros, which has been presented to AFD’s Board on 15th December 2016, aimed at partially financing Phase II of the Kochi metro, including a new line and various urban mobility improvement works.
On this occasion, Mr Elias George and Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler highlighted the partnership between Kochi Metro Rail Corporation and French stakeholders for the promotion of low-carbon urban transport in Kochi.
The ongoing metro project in Kochi will contribute to improving mobility for the residents of Greater Kochi, while promoting the sustainable development of the city. AFD has already supported the project through a previous financing of EUR 180m agreed in 2014 and a technical assistance programme. The French companies involved in this project are contributing to bringing recognized French expertise and experience in mass urban transportation to Kochi. This new financing reiterates the resolve of the Governments of India and France to strengthen their cooperation on sustainable urban transport infrastructure.
The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), with the support of AFD, aims to relieve congestion in the city by building and operating a metro in coordination with the city’s other modes of urban transport. It will benefit 360,000 passengers a day starting from 2018, and 550,000 passengers a day by 2033. The use of the metro will also contribute to reducing air pollution and CO2 emissions significantly, thus providing a sustainable transport option.
In line with the Indian Government’s priorities, the development of low-carbon urban infrastructure, particularly in the transport sector, is central to AFD’s mandate in India.
In 2014, AFD signed a Project Agreement project with the Government of India to finance Phase I of the Kochi metro. The financing, which amounts to 180 million euros, has been earmarked for the construction of a light metro over a 26-km viaduct section, with 22 overhead stations. The works, which were launched in 2013, are progressing rapidly and the first reach is expected to be completed in 2017, making the Kochi metro one of the fastest-built metros in India.
Alongside the financing for the metro, AFD and the Regional Economic Service have supported the implementation of technical assistance financed via FEXTE (Fund for Technical Expertise and Experience Transfers), through a partnership between SYTRAL (Lyon Transport Authority), CODATU (French urban transportation NGO) and KMRL. This programme assists KMRL in the development of a comprehensive vision of urban mobility, which is an essential step in making Kochi a “smart city”.
Many French companies - including Alstom, Faiveley, Railtech, Tata Steel France, Egis Rail, Egis India, Véritas - are also involved in this massive project.
Along with the new financing, the Kochi metro will also benefit from the international initiative, “Mobilise your City”. This global programme, launched during the 2015 COP21 in Paris, aims at improving and developing sustainable low-carbon transportation systems in 100 developing cities around the world. Through this scheme, three Indian cities - Kochi, Nagpur and Ahmedabad - will be provided technical assistance financed by the European Union.
Find out more about the partnership between KMRL and AFD
Agence Française de Développement (AFD), a public development finance institution that implements the policy defined by the French Government, works to fight poverty and promote sustainable development. AFD operates worldwide via a network of 72 agencies. It finances and supports projects that improve living conditions for people, boost economic growth and protect the planet. In 2015, AFD committed 8.3bn euros to financing projects in developing countries and for overseas France. Since 2005, AFD has committed 21bn euros to climate-smart projects in developing and emerging countries. http://www.afd.fr