Kochi Metro’s upcoming second phase, which will connect JLN Stadium to Infopark-Kakkanad, has been designated as the ‘Pink Line,’ and it will exclusively implement digital ticketing. The project is gaining momentum, with Loknath Behera, the Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), recently announcing a crucial development—the issuance of a tender for the design and construction of viaducts.
Spanning 11.3 kilometers in elevation, this phase will encompass a total of 11 stations, and construction is anticipated to commence by December of this year, with an expected completion date set for December 2025.
The tender for viaduct construction is currently open and accessible on the KMRL website and e-tender portal until October 25, 2023. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for September 22, with the contract expected to be awarded by mid-November. Following the contract award, the civil construction phase is slated to conclude within 20 months, followed by an additional four months dedicated to system and signaling installation.
Differing from the first phase, this second phase will utilise a precast construction method for stations, expediting the civil construction process. A precast yard spanning approximately six hectares at HMT Kalamasery has been designated for this purpose.
To optimise station design in the congested urban landscape, several stations will offer direct platform access from ground level, minimizing passenger access time. Moreover, the feasibility of installing platform screen gates to enhance safety is under consideration. To address parking limitations, plans are underway for multi-level parking facilities.
Private land acquisition for station entry structures is expected to conclude by November. The second-phase project has a total budget of Rs 1,957 crore, with contributions from the Government of India, the Government of Kerala, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and public-private partnerships. An AIIB team is scheduled to visit Kochi in the second week of September for further discussions.
Overseeing the project’s progress, the Systra and Systra MVA Consortium has been appointed as the general consultant, while Egis India is serving as the detailed design consultant for Phase 2. Behera also shared that the Tripunithura station is expected to be commissioned by the end of December this year, with an estimated daily ridership of 1 lakh commuters upon its opening, and further increases projected with the completion of Phase 2.
Phase 2 of the metro project will introduce two special spans featuring steel trusses exceeding 60 meters in length, similar to the one constructed between Milma and Tripunithura in Phase 1. These spans will be located at the Palarivattom bypass crossing and the existing Phase 1 crossing at St Martin Church, Palarivattom Junction.