The Kerala government on Wednesday approved a proposal to develop a light metro rail system for Kochi and decided to entrust the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation with the work of drawing up a Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Though the specifics of the project would be known only when the DPR is completed, the system is expected to cost roughly about Rs 2,000 crore, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting. The cost of preparing the DPR itself has been pegged at Rs 75 lakh.
The metro rail is meant to ease traffic congestion in Kerala's commercial hub. It would cover a distance of about 35km with 27 stations in between.
The surface-level metro system is to be developed on Build-Own-Transfer basis. Work is expected to begin in 2005 and be completed in 2010.
The government had held several rounds of discussions with experts on what would best suit Kochi - a metro rail or a sky-bus system before opting for the former.
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