KMRL floats tender for construction of 11.2 km Pink Line of Kochi Metro Phase 2

Kochi, India: The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is making significant strides in expanding the city's metro system with the Kakkanad extension, famously known as the Pink Line. The latest development involves the release of a design-and-build contract tender for the construction of an 11.2-kilometer viaduct and the creation of ten stations along the route.

The eagerly awaited technical bid assessment for Phase-II of the metro extension to Kakkanad is set to open on October 27, with the contract expected to be awarded by mid-November. According to KMRL Managing Director Loknath Behera, the civil construction work for this ₹1,957-crore extension is projected to conclude in 20 months, while system and signalling installation will take an additional four months.

In an effort to expedite the project and meet the ambitious 24-month timeline for the 11.2-kilometer extension, construction of the viaduct will commence simultaneously at six locations, along with the construction of four station sites. Notably, the project will adopt a pre-cast method for station construction, a departure from Phase-1, aimed at saving precious time. A dedicated six-hectare pre-cast yard has been identified at HMT premises in Kalamassery for this purpose.

To facilitate the metro viaduct's crossing of the NH Bypass at Palarivattom and the path diversion toward Palarivattom from St. Martin's Church, two 60-meter-long open-web steel structures similar to the one near S.N. Junction in Thripunithura will be constructed. This strategic design will allow passengers direct access to the platform at four metro stations, reducing access time significantly. KMRL is also exploring the feasibility of implementing platform screen gates to enhance safety.

When it comes to managing traffic diversion during construction, Mr. Behera outlined plans to divert vehicles through the 5.5-meter carriageway on both sides of the road when barricades are erected, especially on the arterial Civil Line Road and other corridors. During peak hours, light motor vehicles will be rerouted through alternative identified routes. The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) will soon notify these routes, as indicated by KMRL.

Regarding land acquisition, which faced delays due to funding issues, Mr. Behera assured that all private spaces required for the station entry structure would be secured by November. The metro agency has obtained permissive sanction for government land. In response to the limited commercial spaces available for the sleeker metro stations in Phase-II due to land constraints, plans include exploring multi-level parking options near metro stations and encouraging parking on vacant private land. A list of such plots is already prepared.

In terms of funding, Mr. Behera detailed the financial plan, which involves the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) providing ₹1,016 crore for the project as a loan with a 3% to 3.5% interest rate. Additionally, ₹47 crore will be contributed through the public-private partnership (PPP) mode for infrastructure like automatic fare collection gates. The Central government will allocate ₹339 crore, while the State government will provide ₹555 crore. The tentative plan includes a five-year loan repayment moratorium, with a 10-year repayment period.

Anticipating increased daily footfall, Mr. Behera stated that once the S.N. Junction-Thripunithura extension is commissioned in December, the metro's daily ridership is expected to rise to 1.1 lakh. Further growth is anticipated upon the commissioning of the extension to Kakkanad, the IT hub, by November-December 2025.

In keeping with modernization trends, all tickets for Phase-II extension will be digital. The supervision and monitoring of the extension work will be handled by the Systra and Systra MVA consortium, with Egis India serving as the detailed design consultant. Furthermore, a competition is in the works for the interior and exterior design of metro stations, with the registration deadline set for September 5.

As Kochi's metro system continues to evolve and expand, these developments promise enhanced connectivity, efficiency, and convenience for the city's residents and commuters.