Kochi Metro Begins Girder Installation On ₹1957 Crore Pink Line Extension
The Kochi Metro Rail project has entered a crucial phase with the installation of its first viaduct girder on the Palarivattom–Kakkanad corridor, signalling rapid progress on the long-awaited Pink Line extension. The development marks a significant step toward connecting the city’s busy commercial hub with its expanding IT and residential zone at Kakkanad, improving urban mobility and sustainability in the process.
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) began the girder installation on Friday along the Infopark Expressway, where a massive 170-tonne U-shaped girder was carefully positioned between two key pillars using a heavy-duty crane. The structure, fabricated at KMRL’s dedicated casting yard in Kalamassery, underscores the project’s increasing momentum after months of steady groundwork and piling operations. Officials said girder placement will continue across multiple spans along the alignment over the coming weeks.
Construction activities have already made notable headway. Nearly 65 pillars have been completed around proposed metro stations at SEZ, Alinchuvadu, and Vazhakkala, with pier caps fixed on 18 of them. In total, 1,135 piles have been completed including 875 for the viaduct and 260 for the station structures. Simultaneously, KMRL’s fabrication yard has produced over 100 U-girders, 72 I-girders, and 100 pier caps, with more components being readied to meet construction timelines.
According to project engineers, the ₹1,957 crore Pink Line project is expected to be completed within 20 months. Tendering for track work is already under way, with progress aligning closely to planned schedules. The corridor, spanning 11 km from JLN Stadium to Infopark, is designed to decongest Kochi’s arterial routes, providing seamless access for thousands of professionals commuting daily to the city’s IT hub.The Palarivattom–Kakkanad extension is a key element in Kochi’s vision of a connected, low-emission transport network. Officials highlight that the metro’s expansion supports Kerala’s broader goal of sustainable urban mobility reducing dependency on private vehicles and cutting carbon emissions through efficient mass transit. Once operational, the corridor is expected to significantly ease road traffic, improve air quality, and boost real estate and business activity around Kakkanad.
Experts in urban transport emphasise that beyond infrastructure, the project embodies the city’s transition towards equitable, climate-friendly growth. The focus on high-capacity public mobility will also reduce commute times, lower transport costs, and enhance access to employment opportunities across the region.While construction challenges remain including logistics around dense urban zones and maintaining minimal disruption to traffic officials express confidence that the Pink Line will meet its completion targets. As the metro pushes deeper into Kochi’s suburban and commercial heartlands, it continues to reshape the city’s development trajectory toward a more connected and sustainable future.
