Extend Kochi Metro airport line to Angamaly, demand stakeholders

With Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) having submitted the detailed project report for the metro's airport extension to the State government, stakeholders are now pressing for the alignment to be pushed further to Angamaly. The demand comes amid persistent traffic congestion on the Aluva-Angamaly stretch of NH 544, which is considered one of the most bottleneck-prone national highway segments in Kerala.

Local elected representatives have expressed strong interest in extending the metro from the airport to the Angamaly railway station, which adjoins the private bus stand. A senior metro official noted that such an extension would align with the Centre's policy of integrating metro systems with other public transport modes.

Davis B.O., secretary of the Angamaly-Kalady-Athani Bus Operators' Association, highlighted the strategic advantage of the railway station's location. It is adjacent to the private bus stand and just 1.50 km from Angamaly town. Linking the metro here would connect it with the proposed Sabari rail network, which is slated to originate from the same station. This would allow rail and bus passengers from Thrissur and areas north of Angamaly to switch to the metro for commuting to Aluva and Kochi city, while also benefiting travellers from nearby towns such as Perumbavoor.

P.V. Paulson, chairperson of the Indian Institute of Materials Management Cochin branch, suggested that the terminal station for the airport extension be located at Karayamparambu, north of Angamaly on NH 544. He pointed out that the proposed 50-km Kochi Outer Ring Road, being considered by the National Highways Authority of India, would connect Aroor with Karayamparambu. Extending the metro from the airport to Karayamparambu via Josepuram could result in significant savings on land acquisition, as the viaduct could largely run through fallow paddy fields. He added that the metro could even be extended further to Karukutty on NH 544.