Kochi Metro Rail Ltd has intensified work on Phase II of the city’s metro network and is targeting completion of the corridor from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor to Kakkanad SmartCity by August 2027, managing director G Priyanka said after a comprehensive review meeting on Thursday.
The review assessed progress across track laying, station construction, electrical systems, lifts, escalators, signalling, telecommunications and automatic fare collection installations. KMRL said intensive measures would be taken to complete the line within the revised deadline.
Civil construction on the remaining stretches is expected to begin immediately after land acquisition on the right side of Palarivattom and at Padamugal is completed. The status of land acquisition is therefore directly linked to the next stage of construction on the corridor, which will connect the existing metro network with the Kakkanad SmartCity area.
KMRL also reviewed the financial and organisational requirements for Phase II. The agency plans to increase non-fare revenue alongside ticket collections as the new line opens. Proposed measures include selling semi-naming rights for stations and introducing new commercial initiatives connected with the Phase II corridor.
The review also identified staffing as an immediate requirement. KMRL has prioritised recruitment for key vacant positions within the organisation to support the construction, operational and commercial work associated with the expansion.
The meeting covered projects beyond the main metro line as well. Construction of the Water Metro stations at Kadamakkudy and Paliyamthuruth has reached its final stage, according to KMRL. The agency also reviewed ongoing work on the Sreekaryam Flyover project in Thiruvananthapuram.
The August 2027 target places the completion of multiple technical and civil packages within the remaining construction schedule. KMRL’s review indicates that work will continue simultaneously on the physical corridor, station systems, revenue planning and recruitment. The next immediate construction milestone is the start of civil work on stretches where land acquisition has been completed.
