Kerala Govt. Approves DPR for Light Metro in Trivandrum & Kozhikode

Mark this date on your historic calendars. On Wednesday July 29, the Kerala government approved the Detailed Project report (DPR) for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode’s Light Metro rail projects. The DPR for the Light Metro projects was submitted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) last year in October and was since waiting for the mandatory clearance from Kerala’s cabinet for sometime.

Now once the Centre gives its clearance, the project would be implemented as a joint initiative of both the governments. As per the current agreement, it is likely that the state and Central governments will independently fund 20 per cent of the total expenses, while the remaining 60 per cent will be availed as loan. The land acquisition cost will be borne by the state government.

Technopark, Trivandrum – photo: Ajithpithu, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)

As per the DPR, there will be three coaches for Thiruvananthapuram which can carry 600 passengers and two coaches for Kozhikode light metro which can accommodate 400 people. The platforms will be designed in such a way so that the trains can be upgraded to four coaches if required. In total, there will 19 stations in Thiruvananthapuram. Reach (R1) will connect Technocity to Kariavattom. No road-widening will have to be carried out as the stretch has the required width. The cost will be Rs 4,219 crore. Reach (R2) will connect Kariavattom to Kesavadasapuram. Here, the work can start only after road-widening for which a project of the National Highway along this stretch will have to be revived. Reach (R3) will connect Kesavadasapuram to Karamana. As per various reports, R1 and R3 can be taken up immediately and can be completed in three years. R2 will take up to five years as roads on that stretch have to be widened. The 21.82-km Technocity – Karamana stretch will cost Rs 4,219 crore.

– TMRG