Kochi Metro Phase II has crossed 80% of its viaduct piling, with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) reviewing construction progress and finances for the 11.2-km Pink Line connecting Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium station in Kaloor with Infopark in Kakkanad. Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) is targeting commissioning of the elevated corridor by August 2027.
A high-level AIIB delegation reviewed the project’s physical progress, construction contracts and operational activities on Monday, according to a KMRL spokesperson. The discussions also covered land acquisition, environmental management plans, worker safety protocols and climate-resilience measures for the proposed infrastructure.
AIIB is providing an external loan of Rs 1,016 crore for the project. The delegation is scheduled to conduct site visits on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the loan’s disbursement schedule will be linked to progress at different stages of construction. A KMRL official said the agency was confident of meeting the August 2027 deadline.
The total cost of the Phase II expansion is estimated at Rs 1,957.05 crore. The project is being funded through equity contributions from the central and Kerala governments, along with multilateral assistance from AIIB. Officials also reviewed fund utilisation, government contributions and the release schedule for the external loan.
The Pink Line will have 11 elevated stations and pass through important commercial, administrative and employment nodes, including Palarivattom, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Cochin Special Economic Zone and Kinfra Park. Its alignment is intended to extend Kochi Metro’s reach towards the city’s major information technology and business district in Kakkanad.
Road widening work for the corridor has been completed, while pillar construction on the remaining stretch between Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Palarivattom NH Bypass junction has entered its final stage. Civil construction and system integration are continuing along the corridor.
KMRL has said the expansion is expected to strengthen Kochi’s urban transport network and improve access to Infopark and surrounding employment centres. The project is also planned to support multimodal integration with feeder buses and water transport. The next milestones are the AIIB delegation’s site inspections, stage-linked loan disbursement and continued construction towards the August 2027 commissioning target.
