THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has sent a fresh proposal to the state transport department recommending the construction of Thiruvananthapuram Metro from Kazhakkoottam Junction to Putharikandam ground.
The new proposal is just 14.9km long and its cost will be estimated once govt takes a final call on the alignment.
The earlier plan to begin the service at Technocity in Pallippuram was abandoned after govt issued a directive to consider a new alignment.
This decision was made after realizing that National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) may not give its nod to dig up roads for the construction of Metro pillars, citing the ‘defect liability’ period.
“We submitted a technical report incorporating the recommendations of various stakeholders. A Metro starting at Kazhakkoottam Junction will have many advantages and we can start work quickly by avoiding procedural delays.
We can even think of Pallippuram at a later stage. We do have three to four alternatives that cannot be disclosed until the govt takes a final decision in this matter,” said KMRL MD Loknath Behera, adding that fixing the alignment is the current task before sending a final report to the govt before inviting tenders later.
The national highway construction work will be complete by the time Metro begins its project and the middle part of the road has to be dug up if Metro pillar works begin in Pallippuram. The elevated highway at Kazhakkoottam would mean raising the height of the Metro pillars and the cost of the project will increase as well, said transport department sources.
The new alignment will link Technopark, Kariavattom university campus, Ulloor, Murinjapalam, Pattom, PMG, legislative assembly, Palayam, Bakery Junction, Thampanoor and Putharikandam ground. Additionally, KMRL also suggested three more alignments by including LuLu Mall, other prominent colleges, spots in the proposal.
The new proposal suggested that the Metro may be extended to Pallippuram in Technocity in phase-II. KMRL said in its proposal that extensions to Kudappanakunnu and Neyyattinkara can be considered in phase-II.
As per the detailed project report submitted by Kerala Rapid Transit Corp Ltd (KRTL) earlier, phase-I of Light metro project (21.8km) from Pallippuram to Karamana was expected to cost Rs 4,673 crores. KRTL was formed in 2021 for the implementation of the project, but state govt dissolved it in 2022 over Centre’s objection.
