Working closely with stakeholders to minimise public inconvenience, says KMRL

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) on Wednesday said it was working closely with various stakeholders to minimise public inconvenience caused by the construction of the Phase II corridor connecting Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium and Infopark via Kakkanad.

KMRL said in a statement that construction activities inevitably caused temporary inconvenience to road users at certain locations. “KMRL is working closely with traffic authorities, local bodies, and other stakeholder agencies to minimise public inconvenience and address issues related to traffic management, road conditions, drainage, and public safety on a continuous basis,” it said. The response comes amid widespread criticism of metro works causing severe traffic congestion along the 10.58-km stretch, mainly at Palarivattom and Kakkanad.

KMRL said though it had submitted a proposal seeking approximately ₹7 crore for strengthening and improving side roads that were being extensively used for traffic diversion and construction-related movement, no dedicated funding was sanctioned for the purpose. “Nevertheless, KMRL has been undertaking maintenance and restoration measures in coordination with the agencies concerned to the extent possible, with special focus on ensuring safe movement of road users during the construction period,” the statement said.

KMRL said it was targeting completion of works by June 2027, followed by testing, commissioning, and system integration activities, with the objective of commissioning the corridor in August 2027.

“Weekly review meetings involving all stakeholders are being conducted to assess progress and resolve issues on priority. During the monsoon period, reviews are being undertaken even more frequently to ensure uninterrupted progress and prompt rectification of field-level issues,” it said.