Technopark to TVM central railway station metro project; underground road from Ulloor to Karamana

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ambiguity looms over the alignment of the Metro Rail project, which is accelerating the development of the capital city. On Wednesday, in an online meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, it was decided to form a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to discuss the alignment.

The committee will consist of secretaries of the revenue, finance, local self-government and transport departments. If the committee submits the report quickly, the capital city will witness the immediate start of initial works for the metro. The plan is to bring a metro service similar to the existing one in Kochi. The Finance Minister had announced in the budget that the project would start in 2026. The Finance Department has also given its approval for this.

According to the DMRC's old DPR, the capital metro construction was expected to cost Rs 11,560 crore. The DPR will be prepared after approving the alignment. Only after receiving cabinet approval can the Central government be approached for approval.

In the meeting held yesterday, KMRL MD Loknath Behra presented six alignments. The alignment with the IT city of Kazhakkoottam is in priority. Dr. Shashi Tharoor MP also spoke about this alignment in the meeting. The technical problems at the places where the elevated highway passes need to be resolved on this route.

Alignment route:

Technopark-Karyavattom University Campus-Ulloor-Medical College-Murinjapalam-Pattom-PMG-Palayam-Bakery Junction-Thampanoor Central Bus Depot-Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station-Putharikandam Maidan.

• In the alignment from Kazhakkoottam to Pappanamcode, a 10 km complete underground road from Ulloor to Karamana is proposed. The budget will be Rs. 6775 crore.

• The second is from Kazhakkoottam to Killipalam. There will be an underground road from Kazhakkoottam to Akkulam, spanning 6.5 km, and from Eanchakkal to Killipalam, costing ₹ 5,775 crore.

• The third corridor is from Palayam to Civil Station. Up to six km of this will be an underground road. The cost of construction will be Rs. 2700 crore. This alignment will connect important centres, including the Museum, Vellayambalam, Kowdiar, Peroorkada, and Civil Station.