Kochi: The possibility of extending the Kochi Metro to Tripunithura is still very much on cards and it depends upon the state government finding its share of Rs 250 crore for the project, Union minister K.V. Thomas said.
“The final decision will be taken only in three months time. As of now we haven’t dropped the project. The main challenge will be to tap funds to the tune of Rs 500 crore of which the state government has to contribute half the amount,” the minister said.
Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), which is entrusted with the feasibility study on extending the Metro to Kakkanad, the international airport and West Kochi in the project’s second phase, has prepared the DPR for the extension to Tripunithura as well.
Since the proposal came late, there are also challenges like getting clearance from agencies like Public Investment Board. The minister said efforts were on to chart the extension in such a way as it would incur minimum land acquisition cost.
