Kochi Eyes India’s First Light Tram System: 6.2 Km Pilot Proposed To Ease Congestion, Cut Costs And Bridge Connectivity Gaps

Kochi is poised to become the first Indian city to introduce a light tram system, with the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) preparing to approve the project, Times of India reported.

Envisioned as a supplement to the existing metro network, the initiative aims to enhance connectivity, ease traffic congestion, and promote cost-effective, sustainable urban mobility.

According to KMRL, the light tram will serve currently unconnected areas, offering an alternative to overcrowded buses and the growing number of private vehicles.

The system will provide a reliable alternative to overcrowded buses and rising private vehicle use, while contributing to efforts to decongest the city’s core, according to the officials cited in the report.

A detailed feasibility study is set to follow board approval, examining technical specifications, passenger demand, infrastructure needs, and overall financial viability.

Initial plans outline a 6.2 km pilot corridor from MG Road to Thevara via Shanmugham Road and the High Court.

Cost is a major factor driving the proposal. With conventional metro systems costing around Rs 300 crore per km, the light tram comes in at roughly Rs 75 crore, a quarter of the price.

Given Kerala’s current budgetary constraints, the light tram option offers an economically viable way to expand the city’s public transport network without overburdening public finances, a KMRL spokesperson noted.

KMRL has engaged Switzerland-based HESS Green Mobility, which has conducted an initial assessment and suggested potential corridors, including a loop linking MG Road, Marine Drive, and Thevara.

Their findings have been submitted to the board for planning and design input.

The proposed trams will be 25 m long, with three coaches and a capacity of up to 240 passengers. They will operate on electric-hybrid technology, offering a 45 km range on a six minute charge.

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