Will Kochi Metro go underground near airport? KMRL clears the confusion
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has clarified that the proposed third phase of the Kochi Metro will have no underground section, including along the route near Cochin International Airport. The entire 18.09-km Aluva-Angamaly corridor proposed under Phase 3 is planned as an elevated track.
The DPR has been submitted to the state government and is currently under consideration.
The proposed Phase 3 corridor is planned to extend from Aluva to Nedumbassery and then Angamaly, with the airport route among four alignments being considered.
Airport route will also be elevated
Earlier reports suggested that the metro would run along the road from Aluva to Kariyad before entering an underground section near the airport.
KMRL has now rejected that description.
The current DPR does not include an underground metro section in the airport area. If the airport alignment is selected, the corridor will remain elevated throughout the proposed 18.09-km stretch.
15 stations proposed
The airport alignment currently under consideration includes 15 proposed stations:
- Thottakattukara
- Kunnumpuram
- Parampayam
- Nedumbassery
- Athani
- Kariyad
- Airport Railway Station
- Airport
- Nayathode
- Kavaraparambu
- Areekkal Junction
- LF Hospital
- Angamaly Town
- Kothakulangara
- Karayamparambu
The proposed alignment would connect Aluva with the airport area and Angamaly, extending the metro network further towards one of Kerala's major transport hubs.
What happens next?
The Phase 3 DPR has already been submitted to the state government. The project and its proposed alignment are now subject to the government's consideration.
The airport route is currently one of four alignment options being examined. Therefore, the final alignment and other project details will depend on the government's decision and subsequent approvals.
Why the clarification matters
The KMRL clarification is significant because the proposed Aluva-Angamaly extension has attracted attention due to its connection with the airport.
The key point is that the current DPR does not provide for tunnelling anywhere along the proposed 18.09-km Phase 3 corridor. Reports suggesting an underground section near the airport do not reflect the design described by KMRL.
The project would extend the metro network beyond Aluva towards Nedumbassery and Angamaly while providing a proposed airport connection. However, the airport alignment itself is still under consideration among four options, and the DPR remains with the state government.
Therefore, the current proposal should not be treated as the final approved alignment until the government completes its consideration and gives the necessary approvals.