Kochi Metro Phase II Construction To Be Completed In Two Years

The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) plans to complete its Phase II metro corridors in two years.

The metro rail project's Phase II will run from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad.

By the end of November or the beginning of December, the KMRL plans to publish the construction tender and begin construction by the end of January 2023.

A geotechnical investigation for the new stretch will begin by the end of October, according to KMRL officials.

On 1 September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for phase II of the Kochi Metro Rail Network.

“As far as the land acquisition for the stations is concerned, administrative sanction from the state government is awaited and is expected to be accorded soon,” said a KMRL official, reports Economic Times.

The preparatory works for Phase II, which is 11.17 kilometres long and has 11 stations, including the widening of Seaport Airport Road, are progressing well.

The project is estimated at a cost of Rs 1,957.05 crore.

The union and Kerala governments would each contribute 16.23 per cent of the overall cost, for Phase II, with the remaining 60 per cent coming from loans from bilateral or multilateral organisations.

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

Phase II metro will link water metro at InfoPark Jetty and Kakkanad Jetty.

In July 2018, the Kerala government approved Kochi Metro's Phase II project, with an 11.2 km Pink Line, 11 stops, and an estimated cost of Rs 2,310 crore.

Phase II 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.

Phase I of Kochi metro from Aluva to Petta, comprises 22 stations over 25.6 kilometres costing an estimated Rs 5,181.79 crore. It is now fully operational.

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