Thiruvananthapuram: The anticipated metro project in Thiruvananthapuram, envisioned to alleviate the city’s transportation woes, faces prolonged uncertainty owing to delays in finalising its alignment by the state government.
The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), entrusted as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for executing metro projects across Kerala, has presented five distinct alignments for the Thiruvananthapuram metro. However, the state government has yet to endorse a specific alignment, resulting in significant setbacks for the project. Originally conceptualised over a decade ago, the rapid transit system was initially proposed as a monorail by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC). Subsequently, plans shifted towards a light metro, a decision that has encountered numerous bureaucratic hurdles without materialising into tangible progress. In a strategic move, the LDF government had earlier sanctioned administrative approvals for light metro projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Yet, subsequent administrative shifts led to the Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd (KRTL) revising the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in February 2021, eventually designating KMRL as the primary implementing agency for all metro endeavours statewide.
Official of KMRL, clarified the ongoing deliberations, noting, “The capital city warrants a conventional metro under the Centre’s metro policy. We have proposed multiple alignment options to the government and anticipate concluding the DPR once an alignment is chosen.” KMRL’s preliminary DPR, based on DMRC’s alignment proposal, estimates the capital’s conventional metro project to cost approximately Rs 11,560 crore. Behera underscored that once the alignment is settled, progress towards implementation would accelerate, addressing the city’s burgeoning traffic concerns and inadequate transport infrastructure. However, discontent persists among local stakeholders regarding the metro’s planning process. The Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (TCCI) has voiced staunch opposition, criticising KMRL’s approach and advocating for DMRC’s involvement instead.
Official of TCCI, expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “We believe KMRL’s actions may divert funds from Thiruvananthapuram to expand Kochi’s metro network. We urge the government to reconsider and entrust DMRC with implementing the metro project in the capital.” Amid these challenges, TCCI proposes an underground metro solution for Thiruvananthapuram, advocating for enhanced scrutiny and transparency in metro development plans. The delays in finalising the metro’s alignment not only prolong infrastructure enhancements but also underscore the complexities and competing interests inherent in large-scale urban development projects. As stakeholders continue to debate the best course of action, the future of Thiruvananthapuram’s metro remains uncertain, pending crucial decisions from the state government and consensus among all concerned parties.
