Kochi Metro: KMRL Begins Piling Work For Phase-II Project, To Connect City To InfoPark

Piling work for the Phase-II project of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has commenced recently.

The Kochi Metro Rail Phase-II network connects Ernakulam City Centre to the suburbs of InfoPark and Kakkanad.

According to a KMRL official, the piling work began as planned last week, initiated with the first station being constructed near Cochin special economic zone.

The project is progressing with Systra and Systra MVA Consulting India Pvt Ltd as the general consultants, while Egis India has been appointed as the detailed design consultant.

Tenders will soon be floated to invite bids for the construction of viaducts.

The second phase of the project consists of an 11.2-km-long elevated line passing through Kakkanad and comprising 11 stations.

The proposed stations are Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) 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.

It 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 to last mile connectivity.

Phase-II Metro will link Water Metro at InfoPark Jetty and Kakkanad Jetty.

On 1 September 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for Phase-II of the Kochi Metro rail network.

The Centre has approved a budget of Rs 1,957 crore for this project. The land acquisition process between JLN Stadium and Palarivattom is expected to be completed by September, with nearly 90 per cent already acquired, reports The New Indian Express.

The remaining land is anticipated to be acquired by September, according to the official.

There is a suggestion to extend the line to Edachira, which is currently being considered by KMRL and Thrikkakara municipality. However, no final decision has been made yet, as stated by the official.

The first phase of Kochi Metro from Aluva to Petta, covering a length of 25.6 km with 22 stations, was completed at a cost of Rs 5,181.79 crore and is now fully operational.