T’puram: Nemom MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar has urged chief minister V D Satheesan to extend the proposed first phase of Thiruvananthapuram Metro Rail project from Pappanamcode to Nemom railway station, saying the extension would significantly improve connectivity to southern parts of the capital. In a letter to the CM, Chandrasekhar pointed out that the govt has currently approved the first-phase alignment from Pappanamcode to Enchakkal.He has sought a modification to extend the southern end of the corridor up to Nemom, arguing that the move would provide better public transport connectivity to a densely populated and rapidly developing part of the city. The existing proposal envisages a 31km Metro corridor from Pappanamcode to Enchakkal with 27 stations. The state govt gave in-principle approval to the alignment in Nov 2025.The project is being taken forward by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), with technical inputs from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).The proposed corridor will pass through several major residential, commercial, administrative, educational and employment centres, including Kaimanam, Karamana, Thampanoor, the Secretariat, Palayam, Pattom, Medical College, Ulloor, Sreekaryam, Kazhakkoottam, Technopark, Akkulam, Kochuveli, the international airport and Enchakkal. Three interchange stations are proposed at Kazhakkoottam, Technopark and Karyavattom.The Detailed Project Report (DPR), recently submitted by KMRL to the state govt, estimates the cost of the 31km corridor at around Rs 8,000 crore. The DPR also proposes intermodal transport hubs at Pappanamcode and Anayara, besides a dedicated Metro rail yard at Kazhakkoottam.According to the MLA, taking the Metro to Nemom would also improve the system’s usefulness for passengers travelling towards Vizhinjam International Seaport, while providing an efficient public transport option for people from areas south of the present Pappanamcode terminus.The MLA said the proposed extension should be considered while the Metro project is still at the planning and approval stage, as incorporating Nemom into the alignment at this stage could ensure better long-term connectivity and reduce the need for a separate extension later.
