THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State govt is likely to decide on the new alignment proposed for Thiruvananthapuram metro rail project this month.
Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), the project executing agency, submitted the preliminary study report based on the new alignment from Kazhakkoottam to East Fort via Sreekaryam and Medical College, as proposed by state govt.
The report is currently under finance department’s consideration. After finance department approves it, state cabinet will take a final decision, which is expected this month, sources said.
Biju Prabhakar, in charge of the metro rail project, confirmed that state govt’s nod is expected this month. “The report is under the active consideration of the finance department. Govt will make a decision this month itself,” he said.
According to KMRL MD Loknath Behera, they are awaiting govt’s decision, and KMRL will alter the final detailed project report (DPR) as per govt’s recommendations. “All feasibility studies are complete, ensuring minimal damage to the stretches proposed in the alignment. The new alignment is under state govt’s consideration. Once govt approves the report, we will update the DPR accordingly. It will not take much time. We will then submit the DPR for final approval from state govt and later from the Centre,” Behera told TOI.
To increase ridership, state govt directed KMRL to conduct a feasibility study on the new alignment in July this year. The transport department suggested that the current alignment proposed by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was impractical.
In a revised alignment for the study, the transport department suggested starting the metro line at Kazhakkoottam instead of Pallipuram, as originally proposed.
The change was recommended as the narrow width of the new NH-66 median would make it extremely difficult to construct metro pillars from Kazhakkoottam to Pallipuram. Additionally, govt suggested routing the metro through the medical college hospital via Karyavattom instead of Kesavadasapuram.
Due to heritage preservation concerns, govt proposed that the elevated metro line may not be feasible in the city’s core areas, such as Statue and Palayam. Govt proposed the metro yard at the Karyavattom University campus.
KMRL submitted an executive summary of DPR to state govt in Feb this year. The DPR previously presented two main alignments: one through Karyavattom-MG Road-Thampanoor-Killipalam, and another via NH-66 through Kazhakkoottam, Akkulam, Enchakkal and Killipalam.
Despite initial plans to submit the full DPR by Jan, only an executive summary was provided due to several factors, including the model code of conduct for elections. In April, a high-level meeting led by former chief secretary KM Abraham reviewed the alignment options presented in the executive summary.
DMRC had completed a field survey in Dec 2023 covering 45kms, including the NH-66 route, as part of the DPR’s preliminary work.
Meanwhile, construction of Sreekaryam flyover is likely to begin this month. The contractor, Cherian Varkey Constructions Ltd, is currently mobilizing the workforce to the site.
