Kerala: Prime Minister Lays The Foundation Stone For Kochi Metro Phase 2, Inaugurates Phase-I Pettah-SN Junction Extension

On Thursday (1 September), Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Petta-SN Junction extension and laid the foundation for phase II of the Kochi Metro Rail Network.

The ceremony was held at Cochin International Airport Limited's trade fair and exhibition centre. The Governor, Arif Mohammad Khan, and the state Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, were present.

The Phase 1-A extension includes two stations, Petta and SN Junction. The extension is part of the Kochi Metro Phase 1A elevated urban rail network.

Vadakkekotta would be the largest of the 24 metro stations, with a floor size of 4.30 lakh sqft, including a sizable commercial section.

While SN Junction has Ayurveda as its theme, Vadakkekotta represents Kerala's participation in the freedom movement.

The Kochi Metro's Pettah-SN Junction extension (Phase 1-A) received a safety certificate from the Commissioner for Railway Safety in June, according to The New Indian Express report.

The Kochi Metro Rail Phase 2 network connects Ernakulam City centre to Infopark and Kakkanad.

Phase 2 Metro will link water Metro at InfoPark Jetty and Kakkanad Jetty.

Phase 2 will connect important residential and commercial hubs in the city with well-known transit hubs like railway stations and bus stops, strengthening the idea of multi-modal integration and first/last mile connectivity.

The proposed station names are Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (new station box), Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamughal (formerly Kunnumpuram), Kakkanad Junction, Cochin SEZ (Special Economic Zone), Chittethukara, KINFRA (formerly Rajagiri), InfoPark 1/Smart City 1, and InfoPark 2/Smart City 2.