CMRS Inspects Kochi Metro’s Phase 1A: Petta – SN Junction

Abhay Kumar Rai – the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) from the Southern Railways on Saturday completed a 3-day final safety inspection of Kochi Metro Phase 1A project’s 1.78 km section between Petta – Vadakkekotta – S.N. Junction.

The CMRS led a 3 member team and inspected everything you can think of – the section’s viaduct, rails/tracks, third rail, elevators, escalators, fire fighting system, Alstom signaling & train-control system, control room and passenger facilities at Vadakkekotta and S.N. Junction stations.

This section was constructed by KEC-CCECC JV through a Rs. 299.87 crore contract awarded in October 2019 for Package KAC-2. Besides constructing the viaduct and 2 stations at Vadakkekotta & S.N. Junction, a new 2 lane bridge across Panamkutty River was also part of their scope.

Trial runs (testing) on this section started in February 2022 – see images and details.

Kochi Metro’s 3.94 km Phase 1 extension, comprising of Phase 1A & Phase 1B, is being directly executed by KMRL after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) completed the 25 km Phase 1 (Aluva – Petta) and left the city in 2020.

The CMRS is expected to submit a conditional approval this week. When this section becomes operational in the coming weeks, Kochi Metro’s Aqua Line will become 26.78 km long with 24 elevated stations.

A further 1.163 km extension to Thrippunithura (Phase 1B) is under construction by KEC – VNC JV through a Rs. 162.98 crore contract (Package KAC-4) awarded in July 2020. I see that section becoming operational in Q4 2023.

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– TMRG