Govt of India cabinet approves ₹1,957 crore Kochi Metro Phase 2 Project

Kochi, India (Metro Rail Today):  The Central Government Cabinet gave its nod for the construction of the second phase of the Kochi Metro Rail project, which will cover a total distance of 11.17 km with 11 stations. The approval was received just one week after laying the foundation stone of project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1st September 2022.

"The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the implementation of the Kochi metro Rail Phase II of Kochi Metro Rail Project from JLN Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad, at a cost of Rs.1,957.05 crore, with a length of 11.17 Kms and 11 stations. The preparatory works for Phase-II including road widening of Seaport Airport Road are progressing well," said the official statement issued by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

The funding pattern of the Phase 2 project includes Govt. of India Equity - Rs 338.75 crore (20%), Govt. of Kerala Equity - Rs 338.75 crore (20%), and Loan from Bilateral/Multilateral agencies - Rs 1,016.24 crore (60%). The remaining expenses will be borne by Govt. of Kerala. The Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system will be built on the PPP model.

Phase-I of Kochi Metro from Aluva to Petta, covering a length of 25.6 Km with 22 stations at an estimated completion cost of Rs.5181.79 crore is fully operational now.

The 1.8km extension of the Kochi Metro (Phase 1A) between Petta to SN Junction with an approved cost of Rs 710.93 crore has been recently opened to the public. The Project is being implemented as a state sector project. 

Kochi Metro Phase 1B Project of 1.20 Km from SN Junction to Thripunithura Terminal is under construction as a state sector project.

The first phase of the project, which started in Aluva and ended at Petta, is fully operational since December 2014. The second phase, which was commissioned in 2017 by then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the presence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will be taken up from the JLN Stadium to Infopark, and will also pass Kakkanad.

Kochi is the most densely populated city in the State of Kerala and is part of an extended metropolitan region, which is the largest urban agglomeration in Kerala. Kochi metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of about 20.8 Lakh in the year 2013, 25.8 Lakh in 2021, and 33.12 Lakh by the year 2031.