KOCHI: Work on the much-delayed extension of the Kochi Metro to Infopark in Kakkanad under the second phase of the project will commence next week. An official said construction of the Infopark and Cochin Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) metro stations will be carried out initially.
Tendering of works for the construction of elevated rail from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark Phase 2 is in progress. Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) plans to complete and open the new stretch by 2028.
The stretch, spanning 11.4 km and having 11 stations, will be a boon to employees of the district collectorate and government and private institutions in Kakkanad, besides techies employed in Infopark and Smart City.
Traffic mgmt to be biggest challenge
The Union Cabinet had approved the project, having an estimated cost of `1,957.05 crore, in September last year. KMRL launched preparatory works, including a geotechnical survey and soil testing for Phase II, in January 2023. Preparatory works, including the widening of the Seaport-Airport Road, are on.
Meanwhile, managing the traffic on the Palarivattom-Kakkanad stretch will be the biggest challenge once work under the second phase begins. The authorities are trying to draw up alternative routes to divert heavy traffic flow witnessed on the stretch in the morning and evening.
The Kochi metropolitan area was estimated to have a population of 25.8 lakh in 2021. The projected population for 2031 is 33.12 lakh.