THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state govt is likely to approve the Metro rail project in the state capital soon. According to highly placed govt sources, the alignment of the project has reportedly received a green signal from the finance department. However, the final decision regarding the alignment will be taken only after a detailed presentation before chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Once the chief minister approves the alignment, it will be tabled for cabinet approval, which is expected by the end of this month. Sources said that the project’s alignment will begin from Kazhakkoottam in the north. However, the govt is yet to disclose the final route.
Transport secretary Biju Prabhakar, who also oversees the Metro rail project, said that the presentation on project alignment will be made before the chief minister soon. “The alignment is being analysed. I will look into it once I receive the file. Then, the presentation will be done for CM’s approval and subsequently be submitted for cabinet nod. We expect it soon,” Prabhakar told TOI.
The govt announced in the 2025-26 budget that the preliminary works of the Thiruvananthapuram Metro project will begin this year itself. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is the agency responsible for the implementation of the project. “The project being mentioned in the budget itself indicates that the govt has given priority to it. So, we expect a decision from the govt at the earliest,” KMRL managing director Loknath Behera said.
Sources also added that KMRL has written to the state govt seeking the decision on the final alignment as soon as possible. Earlier, the state govt approved the comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) and alternate analysis report (AAR) to get funds from the Centre for the project. The approval of the AAR, including the final alignment of the project, is the first crucial step towards project implementation.
KMRL submitted an executive summary of the detailed project report (DPR) to the state govt in Feb 2024. The DPR previously presented two alignment options — one through Karyavattom-MG Road-Thampanoor-Killipalam and another via NH 66 through Kazhakkoottam, Akkulam, Enchakkal and Killipalam.
Meanwhile, the construction of the Sreekaryam flyover, built as part of the Metro rail project, has commenced.
