NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kochi's first metro rail service, along with 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan by his side. After cutting the inaugural ribbon at the rail network's Palarivattom station, he later rode a train from there to Pathadippalam. Kochi Metro began commercial operations on Monday, and trains began operations from Aluva and Palarivattom stations as early as 6 am.
One of many 'firsts' for India, Kochi will be the first one in the country to have a 'water metro', which will be a feeder service to the rail metro, making it the country's first integrated multi-model transport system. The new metro will also be India's first to extensively use solar panels, with as many as 22 stations on the final 25-km full stretch of the rail line hosting panels. Kochi Metro plans to meet 25 per cent of its electricity needs from solar power.
One of the most talked about achievement of the rail is, however, the hiring of around 20 transgender people as part of its work force. The employees would be part of departments like house keeping and even customer care at metro stations. In a brand new video that went viral on the internet, the third gender urged people to treat them like normal people. Last week, Kochi Metro Rail Limited treated all its workers to a traditional 'sadhya' and a dance party as appreciation for their efforts.
