Work on second phase of Kochi metro likely to be ready by December 2026, says KMRL

Work connected the 2nd signifier of the Kochi Metro, which extends the enactment to Infopark and SmartCity via Kakkanad, is expected to beryllium completed by December 2026, Loknath Behera, managing director, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), said present connected Friday (February 6, 2026). On the earlier program to committee the archetypal 5 stations successful the 2nd signifier by June, Mr. Behera said KMRL was moving to implicit astatine slightest the civilian and electrical works connected the agelong from JLN Stadium to Padamugal by then.

He was addressing the media aft KMRL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, to undertake associated probe and implementation successful the areas of sustainable municipality mobility and nationalist transport systems.

He said the works connected the full agelong would person to beryllium completed earlier the four-year deadline ends successful December. “Otherwise, issues specified arsenic outgo escalation volition arise,” Mr. Behera said. He cited delays successful piling caused by what helium termed a “surprise” detection of a state pipeline betwixt Alinchuvadu and Padamugal on the projected metro line, and the unavailability of onshore for the Chembumukku and Padamugal stations, arsenic 2 large obstacles to gathering the June deadline.

“Strategically, we person decided to implicit works successful stretches that are free. Simultaneously, we are undertaking different processes, including issuing tenders for tracks,” helium said. Asked astir the hold by the State authorities successful approving an astir ₹1,200 crore indebtedness from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Mr. Behera said that Cabinet support would beryllium obtained quickly.

Elaborating connected the MoU with IISc, Mr. Behera said it aims to harvester KMRL’s applicable acquisition successful processing and operating multimodal municipality transport systems with IISc’s advanced, data-driven probe expertise. “The probe outcomes volition assistance america plan integrated solutions for Metro Rail, Water Metro, canal-based transport, and different mobility initiatives, ensuring equitable access, reduced congestion, and little c emissions,” Mr. Behera said.

Speaking connected the occasion, Ashish Verma, Professor, Transportation Planning and Policy astatine IISc, Bengaluru, said the collaboration is focused connected solving real-world municipality challenges done evidence-based research. M. P. Ramnavas, manager (Projects), KMRL, besides spoke.