French funding agency has expressed willingness to aid the extension

With the State Cabinet granting the long-sought-after approval to the Kakkanad stretch of Kochi metro, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) authorities are now looking at commissioning the stretch up to Infopark by 2023.

The proposed stretch, covering 11.20 km from the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, is estimated to cost ₹2,310 crore. The extension will have 10 stations - Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamughal, Kakkanad Junction, Kochi SEZ, Chittethukara, KINFRA and Infopark-1.

KMRL managing director A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish told The Hindu that the agency was optimistic of commissioning the stretch by January-February, 2023.

“Provided the requisite agreements with the Union government over necessary sanction and equity component, and that with the French funding agency Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) over loan component are wrapped up by December, and land is handed over by next June, then work can commence by December, 2019,” Mr. Hanish said.

While informal discussions with the Union government has already taken place, the proposal will now be officially moved to the Union government seeking sanction. AFD, which has expressed its willingness to extend assistance to the Kakkanad stretch, will also be officially approached.

The extension necessitates the acquisition of 6.97 acres for around ₹93.50 crore. This is in addition to the acquisition of 8.55 acres for the preparatory work along the route.

Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) Ltd, a Union government-owned engineering consultancy firm under the aegis of the Indian Railways, which had been roped in by the KMRL, had submitted the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the JLN-Infopark stretch in February, 2015.

This was revised by the Urban Mass Transit Company, based on the revised metro policy of the Union government with the crucial addition of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority and alternative mode analysis, Transit Oriented Development, and Value Capture Financing studies. The revised DPR was submitted to the State government on February 14 this year.