[ad_1]
With the Kerala Budget presented by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal announcing that preliminary activities related to the Thiruvananthapuram Metro project will be initiated in the 2025-26 financial year itself, the residents of the capital district are again hopeful.
The delay in finalising the alignment of the route has been causing a major delay for the project, along with the precarious financial situation of the State.
With just one year left for the Assembly and the local body polls, the State government is expected to swing into action by taking a call on the alignment soon.
Five alignments
After the Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Limited, the special purpose vehicle formed to execute the light metro project in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, merged with the Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (KMRL) as per the direction of the Union Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the KMRL has submitted around five different alignments to the State for consideration.
Among the various alignments, the main alignment, prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, that starts from Technocity, connecting Kazhakkootom, Sreekarayam, Kesavadasapuram, Pattom, Thampanoor, Killipalam, and terminating atPallichal, is the prominent route considered by the State. However, the KMRL has submitted another corridor starting from Kazhakkootom and linking Technopark, Bypass, Eenchakkal and will join with the first proposed alignment at Attakulangara.
Stakeholders’ demand
This route was considered by the KMRL considering the demand of various stakeholders involved in the project, including the State government. Also, the State should take a call on whether the main alignment should be drawn through Medical College or Kesavadasapuram, and Statue or Bakery Junction. Another alignment from Kazhakkootom to Putharikandam Maidan via Technopark is also under the consideration of the State.
The State will decide the final alignment based on the passenger volume expected in various alignments along with its feasibility.
Once the alignment is fixed, the KMRL can start work on preparing a detailed project report of the route, said sources. Already, the State government has started work on the flyover at Sreekaryam taking into account the upcoming metro project through the junction. The land acquisition work for Ulloor and Pattom flyovers have also started.
The State government had sanctioned around ₹272 crore for flyovers at Sreekaryam, Pattom, and Ulloor.
Published – February 08, 2025 08:37 pm IST
[ad_2]
The Hindu
