Click it and Unblock the Notifications
There is a growing demand to change the proposed route of the Kochi Metro extension from Aluva to Angamaly so that it directly serves the Angamaly railway station and municipal bus stand. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has already submitted a detailed project report to the Kerala government for the proposed extension.
Kochi Metro's Changed Route
The planned Metro corridor is about 18.08 km long and will be fully elevated, with 14 stations. The current proposal is to connect Aluva with Angamaly through Kochi Airport and then take the route through Nayathode to Karayamparambu. However, this route does not include the Angamaly railway station.
Several groups, including private bus operators, local traders, citizen organisations and transport experts, are asking authorities to reconsider this alignment. They believe that leaving out the railway station and bus stand would reduce the usefulness of the Metro. The municipal bus stand is located next to the railway station, which is used by more than 130 private buses, and have been serving passengers from nearby towns and rural areas for many years.
Local representatives also believe that the Metro should run closer to NH 544. A survey conducted by the Angamaly Metro Action Council reportedly found that more than 90% of respondents supported a route that would serve the railway station, bus stand and important industrial areas such as TELK. The group has suggested that airport passengers could instead use an automated people-mover system connecting Kariyad with Kochi Airport, which could provide a quicker connection than the proposed Nayathode route.
Another citizen group, Kochi First, has questioned whether the Nayathode route would actually reduce land-acquisition costs by suggesting Metro integration with the upcoming Angamaly-Kochi Airport bypass project, which connects Karayamparambu junction to the railway station and then the airport. Supporters believe building the elevated Metro along this planned corridor could provide a cheaper and better-connected transport system.