Kozhikode Light Metro: The Metro System to Explore the Scenic Beauty of Kozhikode

Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd. (KRTL), a special-purpose corporation set up by the Kerala Government, has proposed to construct a light metro system in Kozhikode, Kerala, alternatively referred to as the Kozhikode Metro. Kozhikode, India’s picture-perfect Malabar Coast, is a lovely city that offers a wonderful blend of nature and development. It is the second-largest city in Kerala, with a population of over two million people. It is also considered one of the nicest places to reside in Kerala. This city is said to have everything for everyone, from new skyscrapers to peaceful parks and lakes. Furthermore, Kozhikode is home to a number of institutes and universities identified and known for providing world-class education.

In Kozhikode, there are numerous sites to visit. The amazing Lokanarkavu Temple is well-known for its one-of-a-kind celebration. Furthermore, the Pooram festival is observed in its entirety here. Visitors can also admire the pearly-white Aripara Falls as it cascades down the rock faces. Kozhikode also offers a number of beautiful beaches that are great for relaxing. People can also take a romantic stroll along the gorgeous Kozhikode Beach, where they can watch the crashing waves, or they can relax at Parappalli Beach and go surfing. There’s a lot to do with our loved ones, and then visit Beypore Beach, which also has a promenade area. The projected Kozhikode metro routes would connect various regions of the city. Furthermore, the Kozhikode Metro route would allow the traveller to see all of these tourist attractions and more in Kozhikode without breaking the bank.

Project Details

The Kozhikode Metro is a proposed LRT (Light Rail Transit) system for the city of Kozhikode (Calicut). The State government assessed the feasibility of constructing a metro rail system for Kozhikode and its surrounding areas in 2010. The plan was envisaged for the construction of a corridor through the city centre that would connect Meenchanda to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Wilber Smith, a Bangalore-based consultant, submitted an initial report on the thorough feasibility study of implementing the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) in the city. The project, however, was cancelled and has been proposed to be replaced by the Kozhikode Monorail project. The State Cabinet then agreed to establish a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to carry out implementation works of monorail projects in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, which received administrative approval in October 2012. On November 26, 2012, the state government approved rules handing the Thiruvananthapuram Monorail project to the KMCL. Prior to that, the government had handed and passed over the Kozhikode Monorail project to the KMCL. On June 12, 2013, the State Cabinet approved the signing of an agreement between KMCL and DMRC, making the latter the general consultant for the monorail projects in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. 3.25% of the Rs. 55.81 billion (Rs. 35.90 billion for Thiruvananthapuram and Rs. 19.91 billion for Kozhikode) has been proposed to be paid to DMRC as a consultation fee. On June 19, 2013, the deal was signed. However, due to cost overruns and lack of bidder interest, the project was put on hold. The project’s sole bidder was Bombardier Transportation. The proposal was later abandoned, and a Light metro system was planned in its place.

The plan is for the construction of a 14.2-kilometre light metro line with fifteen stations between Meenchantha and Medical College. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), which has been engaged as a general consultant, shall provide the complete project report and details. The automotive depot has been constructed on 5.20 hectares (12.8 acres) of government-owned uninhabited and vacant land around 500 metres (1,600 feet) east of the Medical College Hostel station. The monorail is expected to be built in two stages. The first is between Medical College and Mananchira, and the second is between Mananchira and Meenchantha. The project would necessitate around 10.65 ha (26.3 acres) of land, 80 per cent of which would be controlled by the government.

The proposed Light Metro shall be developed as a government endeavour, with financing provided by both the state and the central governments to bridge the viability gap. The State Government shall contribute Rs 2,187 crores over a five-year period, including land expenditures. The remaining funds have been proposed to be obtained both internally and outside from competent agencies.

Timeline & History

Following the success of the Delhi Metro, the Union Urban Development Ministry decided to consider the proposal for a Metro in Kozhikode and signed an agreement with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to draw the detailed project report (DPR) of the Rs.27.71 billion Kozhikode metro transport project as a feasibility study for the introduction of suburban services in Kozhikode city. The Ministry opted to shoulder half of the expense of preparing the DPR for the city that falls inside the population cut-off range. In December 2008, the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) conducted a preliminary feasibility assessment in collaboration with the Kerala Road Fund Board. The Board commissioned Wilber Smith to perform the study in June 2009 based on this feasibility report. NATPAC had already proposed a metro rail project spanning 32.6 km from Karipur to the Calicut Medical College. The project was predicted to cost Rs. 27.71 billion and was supposed to be completed in five years. The monorail project, which replaced the metro rail project, has been expected to cost Rs 1,991 crore, but the lone bidder, Bombardier Consortium, submitted a bid that was nearly double the estimate. The proposal, therefore, was cancelled, and the Light Metro was approved.

Routes & Funding

Pursuant to the Metro proposal, the plan envisages the metro to run from Karipur Airport to Ramanattukara, Meenchanda, Mini-Bypass, Arayadathupalam, and conclude at the Medical College. By 2031, nearly 2.1 million individuals are expected to be benefitted from the upgraded transport system. The project, which is estimated to be completed in parts in three years, is both fiscally and technically feasible. However, according to the full project report published by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the Kozhikode Monorail line shall be retained for the Light Metro project. The Union government supported implementing the project with private participation, overlooking its own financial engagements. The Ministry of Urban Development and the Planning Commission were also opposed to government participation in the project and refused to recognise it as a project similar in capacity and in line with the Delhi Metro and Chennai Metro.

The political rivalry between Kerala’s former left-front government and the UPA government at the Centre had been one of the principal reasons for such developments and the project’s slowdown. The change in government in Kerala helped in bringing a change in those conditions, making the Kozhikode Metro one of the UDF government’s top priorities. However, Kerala’s cabinet, led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, chose to give approval only to the Kozhikode Monorail Project, which would replace the metro rail project keeping Kochi Metro Rail Project unaffected.

Proposals & Future Extensions

The project was proposed to span a distance of 14.2 kilometres with fifteen stations from Medical College Hostel to Meenchanda. The car depot was scheduled to be located around 500 metres (1,600 feet) east of the Medical College Hostel station on 5.20 hectares (12.8 acres) of government-owned unoccupied land. The monorail has been planned to be built in two stages. The first stretch from Medical College to Mananchirae and the second one from Mananchira to Meenchantha. The project required nearly twenty-seven acres of land, of which more than eighty per cent of the area required to be owned by the government. Further, the government intended to expand the monorail all the way to Civil Station and West Hill. The six-kilometre line between Malaparamba and Civil Station would have cost nearly Rs.600 crore.

Key Specifications

Operational: 0 km

Under Construction: 0 km

Approved: 13.13 km

Estimated Cost: Rs. 2,773 crore

Metro Phase 1 Route

Line 1 – Meenchanda to Kozhikode Medical College

• Length: 13.3 km
• Type: Elevated
• Depot: Medical College
• Number of Stations: 14
• Stations: Meenchanda, Vattakkinar, Panniyankara, Kallayi, Pushpa, Kozhikode Railway Station, Palayam, Mananchira, KSRTC, New Bus Stand, Kottuli, Thondayad, Chevayur and Medical College

Latest Update

Kochi Metro Rail Limited is still working on the metro rail model for Kozhikode Metro. The concerned authorities had to complete the metro model by the end of March 2023. KMRL awarded the contract for CMR development to an urban transport consultant, Urban Mass Transit Company Limited, which was supposed to be completed by March 31, 2023, but the agency failed to meet the deadline. The KMRL officials have stated that the study on the plan and work on the Comprehensive Mobility Report (CMR) for Kozhikode Metro is still ongoing. They have confirmed, however, that the inception reports required for the development of CMR, such as transportation requirements and patterns reports, have been completed. Urban Mass Transit Company Limited was also assigned with the responsibility of developing a Comprehensive Mobility Report for Thiruvananthapuram Metro in collaboration with Kozhikode Metro. This report’s preparation is also underway.

As per senior government official, the Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode metro rail projects may not be completed soon enough due to the state government’s reluctance to advance them forward. The Urban Mass Transit Co (UMTC) Ltd is yet to finish and submit to Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) its study on selecting appropriate models for two cities. The original report submission deadline was March 31, 2023. The officials further added that the government feels the proposed projects would not be financially sustainable for the two cities, given Kochi Metro’s deficit. Despite a prior study, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is conducting another study to examine the feasibility of a metro train in the city.

As per a few media reports too, it is expected that the other transportation options shall also be reviewed for the two cities. The metro project’s delay has also impacted the projected flyover in Sreekaryam, Thiruvananthapuram. The tendering process and the destruction of stores for road widening have been halted. In the midst of the Kochi Metro’s lack of profitability, officials also claim that building a metro in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode would be unnecessary and expensive due to existing public transportation options.

Furthermore, the government is having financial challenges. Despite criticism, ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan, responsible for Kochi Metro, believes that metro rail projects are important for these cities. According to Sreedharan, this would be a waste of resources because no metro rail project in the world is viable. He further points out that Kochi Metro’s losses cannot be used as an excuse because the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is also incurring losses. Following the Centre’s request for a single company to manage all metro projects in the state, KMRL prepared for project implementation.

Instead of a light metro, the Union government offered a metro-lite model, but the state government remained sceptical. This was due to metro-lite’s experimental nature, as it had not yet been implemented anywhere in the country. Loknath Behera, managing director of KMRL, also approached district collectors and mayors of the cities for assistance in completing the project, requesting their support and cooperation. Following the completion of the report, the complete project report (DPR) shall be developed and forwarded to the central and state governments for approval. Thiruvananthapuram’s concept also includes underground portions. According to a KMRL official, UMTC has submitted an interim report, and a high-level meeting has been planned to be organised soon in Thiruvananthapuram to finalise the activities. The projects for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode are expected to be completed concurrently with the start of the tender process for the Sreekaryam flyover.