KMRL to implement Light Metro Rail projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode

Kochi, India (Metro Rail Today): The Kerala Government cabinet entrusted Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) with the construction of the Light Metro/Metrolite projects, and the construction of three flyovers to be implemented by the Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. 

The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held on 24th August 2022. The Kochi Metro will be entrusted with the task of preparing a new detailed project report for the Light Metro Rail projects. The detailed project reports (DPR) should be prepared in line with the guidelines issued by the Central Government.

To make the process easy, the cabinet has also decided to amend the orders pertaining to guidelines and norms for giving exemption from land ceiling limit under The Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963. All proceedings related to applications for exemption will be processed online.

Apart from this, the Kerala Government is also working on merger of Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Limited (KRTCL), the special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed to execute the light metro project in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, with Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL) following a suggestion by the Union Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). 

Loknath Behera, Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd has asserted that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the metro in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode will be ready within nine months. "We have started our works regarding the metro projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode cities and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of this will be ready within nine months," said Loknath Behera.

Urban transport is a State Govt subject and Kerala is of the opinion that light metro rail system is feasible for the two cities, while many other States like Delhi, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh chose to switch to the new modes for their upcoming metro projects. 

In February 2021, Kerala government’s cabinet had approved and provided revised administrative sanction for Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram light metro (light rail transit / metrolite) projects with a combined estimated cost of Rs 7446 crore.

The 21.82 km Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro project connecting Technocity to Karamana was estimated to cost Rs 4,673 crore while the 13.3 km Kozhikode Light Metro project connecting Meenchanda to Kozhikode Medical College was estimated at Rs 2,773 crore.