Passengers per hour key to choosing Metro system for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode: KMRL chief

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) Managing Director Loknath Behera has said whether Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode need a conventional Metro, Light Metro or Metro Neo will depend on the expected number of passengers per hour.

As per the norms of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), an average of more than 15,000 passengers are required to justify a conventional metro system, while a light metro is recommended for 10,000 to 15,000 passengers. Metro Neo, which can be built as an elevated structure, will suffice if it is less than 10,000. He told the media here on Friday that each of those kilometers would cost ₹200 crore, ₹150 crore and ₹60 crore respectively.

The state cabinet had on Wednesday directed KMRL to prepare and execute a detailed project report (DPR) for the Light Metro and Metro Neo projects for the two cities. It was also entrusted with the construction of flyovers at Pattam, Ulur and Srikaryam in Thiruvananthapuram.

A loop structure of about 39 km has been recommended for Thiruvananthapuram and a similar loop structure of 26 km has been recommended for Kozhikode. As new technologies emerge, the construction time of elevated viaducts can be reduced (compared to Kochi Metro). A conventional metro train can carry 900 passengers and a light metro train can carry 700 passengers, Mr. Behera said.

Kochi Metro

On the two-month delay in commissioning the 1.80-km Petta-SN Junction extension of the Kochi Metro after the safety certificate was issued by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, he said the MoHUA is expected to announce a convenient date.

water metro

If all goes well, the water metro can start in the first week of October. He said the fifth boat handed over by the Cochin Shipyard to KMRL is being tested.