Kochi Metro’s Pink Line stations to showcase Keralam’s cultural heritage

The 11 stations envisioned along Kochi Metro’s Kakkanad extension (Pink Line) would showcase elements of Keralam’s heritage, culture and tradition.

“This is in keeping with the practice of assigning dedicated themes to many of the 23 stations along the metro’s Aluva–MG Road–Thripunithura corridor (Blue Line), reflecting the uniqueness of their respective locations. For example, the JLN station at Kaloor on the Blue Line has sports as its theme, considering its proximity to the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium,” metro sources said.

The Pink Line would take off from JLN Stadium and proceed eastward to its first station at Palarivattom Junction. Owing to space constraints, the station would have entry and exit points only on its northern side. Its theme would be ‘Cartoons — Lines of Laughter: Keralam and Beyond’, considering that the State is home to numerous cartoonists who have made their mark nationally and internationally, they said.

The next station, a larger one at Alinchuvadu, would have ‘Kasavu and Beyond: Keralam Handloom’ as its theme, commemorating the legacy of handloom weavers, including those in Chendamangalam in northern Ernakulam. The proposed station at Chembumukku would have ‘Musical Instruments of Keralam’ as its theme.

The fourth station, at Vazhakkala, would have ‘Lamps of Keralam’ as its theme, while the station at Padamugal would feature elements of the ‘Legacy of the Coir Industry — The Golden Fibre of Keralam’. Coir products are in high demand in domestic and international markets.

One of the most prominent stations on the Pink Line, at Civil Station Junction (Collectorate Junction) in Kakkanad, would be themed on the iconic ‘Aranmula Kannadi — The Mirror of Heritage’, another of the State’s claims to global fame. ‘Ornaments of Keralam’ would be the theme of the next station, at Cochin SEZ on Seaport–Airport Road.

Many stories

Chittethukara station, located near the Water Metro terminal used by IT professionals and other commuters, would feature elements of ‘Keralam’s Iconic Snake Boats — The Majestic Vallam Kali’. Further ahead, closer to the IT corridor, Kinfra Park station would showcase ‘Kalaripayattu’, Keralam’s famed martial art form, while the next station, at Infopark, would feature ‘Kathakali’. Giving pride of place to the unique art form popular in north Keralam, the terminal station at SmartCity would be themed on ‘Theyyam’. The aim is to convey the message, ‘One Journey, Many Stories, Infinite Memories’, to metro commuters, sources said.