KMRL launches ₹1,957-cr metro rail expansion

The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has launched widening of Seaport-Airport Road from Kakkanad Collectorate Junction to Infopark Expressway Entrance, as part of Phase II of Kochi Metro. To facilitate smooth metro rail expansion, the KMRL is widening the 2.5 km long road into four-lane. The state government has handed over the road work to KMRL as preparatory work for Phase II implementation. The government had initially allocated ₹189 crore for the Phase II preparatory work. However, the widening of the road stretch on Seaport-Airport Road was not part of this initial proposal, as Roads and Bridges Development Corporation—Kerala (RBDC-K) was in the process of widening the road from Kalamassery to Irumpanam. Kochi Metro Rail filed a proposal to start the widening work in Phase II. The Kochi Metro's Phase II work is scheduled to begin as soon as the central government sanction comes. The state government has already given administrative sanction for a revised DPR. The revised estimated cost of the project is ₹1,957 crore. The second phase will cover a total length of 11.17 km along 11 stations, including Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Signal, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Kunnumpuram, Kakkanad Junction, Kochi Special Economic Zone, Chittethukara, Rajagiri, InfoPark I and InfoPark.