‘Metro arriving in Thiruvananthapuram’, screamed headlines almost a decade back. Times have passed considerably even making Kochi feel the perks of the modern urban transport system. Despite Kochi’s gain, the capital city’s metro plan resides just in dreams.

The structure of the proposed metro was changed several times. There were endless debates on whether Thiruvananthapuram should accept a monorail or light metro or the one resembling the Kochi metro.

Meanwhile, the project cost has increased tenfold now. In the first phase, it was envisaged to start the metro service from Technocity near Kazhakoottam and reach Thampanur via Kariyavattam, Sreekariyam, Kesavadasapuram and Pattom, and from there to Karamana.

After giving such high promises, the concerned authorities went into an ascetic mode for years, withholding themselves from speaking about the topic.

Meanwhile, the alignment was redrawn to include Technopark. Finally, one route from Kazhakoottam via the National Highway Bypass passes Chackai and Eanchakkal to Killipalam and another route from Sreekariyam and Pattom to Thampanoor.

With ambiguity looming large about the metro in the capital city, another news barged into the headlines: ‘Alignment changed again’.

It is indicated that the new alignment for the first phase will extend from Technocity via Kariyavattam, Sreekariyam, Medical College, Pattom, and Thampanoor to reach East Fort Putharikandam Maidan. It is reported that the state transport department has instructed KMRL to study the new proposal and submit a report.

According to the plan, the second phase of the Thiruvananthapuram Metro will extend up to Neyyattinkara. Apart from this, there is also a new proposal to extend the service to Kudappanakunnu where the civil station is located.

Authorities are still evading a decision despite receiving many suggestions and comments. With a burgeoning population and an evolving urban landscape, it is a certitude that the metro will be the need of the hour.

Once the Vizhinjam International Port becomes fully operational, the current transport facilities in the city will fail to match the needs of the masses. Metro is the answer for the traffic snarls in the city and if the project faces any obstacle, it is better to solve it rather than dropping it as a whole. Rail connectivity from Vizhinjam port has received final approval. The plan is to build a ten-kilometre underground road from Balaramapuram to Vizhinjam. Work is scheduled to begin next year.

The port was to become fully operational along with the rail facility. If the work on the underground road had started two years earlier, the movement of goods from the port would have been much easier.