Thiruvananthapuram Metro Phase I to boost urban mobility; connect airport, technopark, key city hubs

Giving a shot in the arm to the dream of revolutionising urban mobility and fuelling sustainable economic growth in the State capital, the Phase I alignment of the Thiruvananthapuram Metro Rail project will connect the three phases of the Technopark, the airport, Thampanoor bus stand, and railway station.

A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office on Friday (November 7, 2025) said the project will accelerate the future development of the rapidly growing city of Thiruvananthapuram.

Administrative sanction for implementing the light metro rail system in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode districts by the Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Limited was accorded in September 2015. Later, by a September 2022 Government Order, the entire project was handed over to the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL). The KMRL, after carrying out the comprehensive mobility study, had said a Mono Rail or a Light Metro system is not be sufficient to cater to the ever-growing city such as Thiruvananthapuram and suggested a conventional metro, like in other cities, as the most appropriate form.

After a series of meetings in the past few years, the KMRL presented a revised proposal from Pappanamcode to Eenchakkal, covering 31 km with 27 stations, in the last Secretary-level committee meeting held on November 4, 2025. It also explained the technical feasibility of extending Corridor I up to Technopark Phase II.

The committee that examined the proposal found that the revised alignment from Pappanamcode to Eenchakkal adheres to the Central directive by effectively covering the Thiruvananthapuram North railway station and the airport. This also ensures seamless connectivity between key urban modes by integrating the corridors proposed in the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP).

The State Government then accorded the in-principle approval for the alignment after a detailed scrutiny. The Managing Director, KMRL, will now take steps to prepare and submit the DPR of the project in accordance with the Metro Rail Policy 2017 and guidelines of the Union Government.

As part of the metro project, the KMRL was entrusted with the construction of the Sreekaryam, Ulloor, and Pattom flyovers. The construction of the Sreekaryam flyover is progressing rapidly. The project is expected to accelerate the future development of rapidly growing Thiruvananthapuram city.