If Centre approves, Thiruvananthapuram will get metro rail project by 2028

KOCHI: If the central government grants approval, the metro rail project that will transform the face of the state capital will become a reality by 2028. Although the state government has approved the 31-kilometre first alignment of the metro, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) needs to be revised. The updated DPR is expected to be received from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) within one and a half months. Only after securing central approval can further steps be taken. The approval is expected within a maximum of five months. Construction is likely to begin in 2026, according to Loknath Behera, Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), which will handle the construction work.

Estimated cost of 8,000 crore
The estimated cost of the first phase of the Thiruvananthapuram Metro is Rs 8,000 crore. Following the Kochi Metro model, 20 per cent will be funded by the state government, 20 per cent by the central government, and the remaining 60 per cent will be raised as loans. There are discussions underway to increase the central share, which would require the state’s contribution to rise as well. Later, the metro could be extended in two or three phases to reach areas such as Attingal, Neyyattinkara, Vizhinjam, and Vellayani.

• Construction is expected to start in 2026 and finish by 2028
• About one lakh (100,000) passengers are expected daily
• Digital ticketing will be implemented from the start
• 31 trains will be introduced in the first phase

27 stations
The stations will include Pappanamcode, Kaimanam, Karamana, Thampanoor, Secretariat, Palayam, Plamoodu, Pattom, Medical College, Ulloor, Pongumoodu, Sreekaryam, Pangappara, Gurumandiram, Karyavattom, Technopark Phase 1, Technopark Phase 3, Kulathoor, Technopark Phase 2, Aakulam, Kochu Veli, Venpalavattom, Chakka, Airport, Eenchakkal, Kazhakoottam, Technopark, and Karyavattom.

Alignment after 11 years
2014: DMRC prepared the first DPR for the project
2021: DMRC submitted a revised DPR
2022: The Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Metro projects were handed over to KMRL