Kochi Metro Phase 2 Set To Roll: Construction On Pink Line To Commence In December

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has recently issued a tender for the design and construction of viaducts of Kochi Metro's second phase, which will run from JLN Stadium to Infopark-Kakkanad.

It involves construction of the elevated line, spanning 11.3 kilometres and featuring a total of 11 stations. Work is expected to commence in December of this year.

The viaduct tender for the Pink Line has been posted on the KMRL website and e-tender portal. The deadline for submission is 25 October 2023. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 22 September. The contract will be awarded to the successful bidder by mid-November.

The civil construction work is expected to be completed within 20 months, followed by an additional four months for system and signalling work.

In the second phase of construction, the precast method will be used to expedite the civil construction work. A precast yard of approximately six hectares has been identified at HMT Kalamasery.

According to Loknath Behera, the Managing Director of KMRL, the Pink Line is anticipated to be operational by December 2025.

Behera also mentioned that the Pink Line will only accept digital tickets, as part of an effort to promote paperless ticketing. This move aligns with the goal of minimising environmental impact and embracing digital advancements.

The Pink Line will prioritise the safety of women employees at Infopark. Many of these women have to walk long distances or rely on cabs, especially at night.

The stations along the Pink Line include JLN Stadium (new station box), Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamughal, Kakkanad Junction, Cochin SEZ, Chittethukara, KINFRA (formerly Rajagiri), InfoPark 1/Smart City 1, and InfoPark 2/Smart City 2.

According to Behera, the design of the stations takes into account the congestion of the stretch, resulting in minimal areas.

Behera stated that out of the 11 stations, four will have direct entry to the platform from ground level to reduce access time. The feasibility of installing platform screen gates for enhanced safety is also being explored.

To address the limited parking space, plans are underway to establish multi-level parking facilities, as mentioned by Behera.

The acquisition of private land for the station entry structure will be completed by November. The total cost of the second-phase project is Rs 1,957 crore, with the government of India and the government of Kerala funding Rs 338.75 crore and Rs 555.18 crore respectively.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as the funding agency, will allocate Rs 1,016.24 crore with an interest rate of around 3 per cent. Additionally, Rs 46.88 crore will be contributed through the public-private partnership model.

The AIIB team is scheduled to visit Kochi in the second week of September for further discussions.

A general consultant, Systra and Systra MVA Consortium, has been appointed to supervise and monitor the work. Egis India is the detailed design consultant for Phase 2 of the project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Phase-II Kochi Metro Rail project, from JLN stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad on 1 September 2022.