RITES Bids for Kochi Metro Phase 3’s DPR Consultant Contract

RITES Ltd. on Thursday was declared as the only bidder to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Kochi Metro’s Phase 3 project by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL).

Kochi Metro’s Phase 3 project involves construction of a roughly 14 km northern extension of 27.96 km Line-1 from the operational Aluva Metro Station to Angamaly via Cochin International Airport (COK) at Nedumbassery. Kochi’s elevated Line-1 connecting Aluva to Tripunithura was built in Phases 1, 1A and 1B, and will become roughly 42 km if and after Phase 3 materializes.

The contract’s scope also includes conducting a feasibility to extend the line to Global City in Ayyampuzha which is planned on a 358 acre site and forms one of the components of Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (KBIC).

KMRL has invited bids for this consultancy contract in January 2025 with a 180 day deadline and an unknown estimate.

KMRL’s Brief Scope: Request for Proposal for Consultancy Services for the Preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Phase III Corridor of Kochi Metro Rail Project from Aluva to Angamaly with Airport Connectivity

Whether KMRL is satisfied or not with receiving just 1 bid remains to be seen. If they aren’t, then this package will will head to a retender. If they are, then RITES’ technical bid will be evaluated for the next steps in the tendering process.

If KMRL proceeds with RITES sole bid and awards a contract by June, then we might get to see a glimpse of the DPR’s first draft, if KMRL chooses to share, in Q1 2026 (January – March).

The DPR will provide a baseline of the line’s length, route composition (underground, elevated & at-grade sections), number of stations, their locations, depot, coach requirement, ridership projection, operational game plan, total cost etc.

This is a good start, but realistically we’re easily 4 years away from seeing construction on Phase 3 begin after development of 11.2 km Phase 2 comes to an end and the Pink Line becomes operational between JLN Stadium – Infopark II.

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– TMRG