Narendra Modi inaugurates Kochi Metro, dedicates the first phase to the nation

Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the first phase of Kochi Metro to the nation on Saturday.Soon after his arrival at the Naval airport in Kochi from New Delhi, Modi drove to the Palarivattom station and took a ride from Palarivattom to Pathadippalam.Kerala governor P Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu and 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan were among those who accompanied the prime minister in the train.After cutting the ribbon at the Palarivattom station, Modi shook hands with the chief minister and Sreedharan before proceeding to board the metro train.During the journey, Modi waved at the crowd as Sreedharan and Kochi Metro Rail Ltd managing director Elias George interacted with him.Union urban development secretary Rajiv Gouba, Kerala chief secretary Nalini Netto and BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan also travelled with the prime minister.[caption id="attachment_3706501" align="alignleft" width="380"]

Narendra Modi with Kerala chief minister  and other dignitaries at the launch of Kochi Metro. Twitter @CMOKerala[/caption]After the train ride, the dignitaries left for the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at nearby Kaloor for the formal inaugural function.Considered the fastest completed metro project in the country, Kochi Metro, the flagship transportation infrastructure project of Kerala, will start its regular operations from 19 June.The estimated completed cost of the metro touched Rs 5,181.79 crore.A long-cherished project of Keralites, the foundation of Kochi Metro was laid by then prime minister Manmohan Singh on 13 September 2012.It will improve regional connectivity and reduce traffic congestion.