Kochi Metro: chugging along with time

May 8, 2017

Kochi Metro given the final approval to start service.

September 24, 2016

The trial run between Muttam and Palarivattom is a success.

August 6, 2016

Construction on the first station of Kochi Metro begins at Pulinchode in Aluva (Though piling was held at various locations for metro stations, this was for the first time that iron girders were placed above vertical beams for the station)

January 23, 2016

The Kochi Metro’s first trial run is flagged off by then chief minister Oommen Chandy.

September 9, 2014

Railway subsidiary Ircon International given the contract to manufacture the track for the Kochi Metro

July 20, 2014

The KMRL signs an agreement with Canara Bank for a loan of Rs 1,170 crore.

July 12, 2014

The first girder installed between Aluva and Pulinchode.

February 17, 2014

As much as Rs 462.17 crore earmarked for the Kochi Metro in the Union budget.

February 6, 2014

A meeting chaired by the chief minister agrees to retender the procurement of the coaches.

January 27, 2014

The KMRL board of directors approves a plan to extend the Metro rail to Tripunithura in the first stage itself.

December 4, 2013

The Kerala cabinet decides to raise the budget allocation for the preparation of the Kochi Metro project from Rs 156.68 crore to Rs 242.47 crore.

November 8, 2013

An agreement reached with the railways to grant land for the project on the premises of the Ernakulam Junction (South) railway station. The railway quarters would be demolished and the land handed over to the KMRL.

July 5, 2013

The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) board of directors approves a budget of Rs 5537.25 crore for the project.

June 7, 2013

The piling work for the foundation starts officially near the Changampuzha Park.

September 13, 2012

Prime minister Manmohan Singh lays the foundation stone for the metro project at a function held in Kochi.

August 20, 2012

Elias George takes charge as the managing director of KMRL.

June 14, 2012

The project is christened KOMET by KMRL.

January 12, 2012

E. Sreedharan is given the full charge of the project. Chief minister Oommen Chandy announces that DMRC will be handed over the contract without inviting global tenders.

March 6, 2009

The work on the first phase of Kochi Metro project kicks off. DMRC appoints chief engineer P. Sriram as the project director.

February 28, 2007

The project gets approval from the state cabinet. The government appoints Southern Railway former additional general manager R. Gopinathan Nair as the special officer.

July 27, 2005

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) submits a detailed project report for the first phase of the proposed Metro rail line between Aluva and Pettah to the state government.

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Map view

How Kochi Metro came on track: the insider story

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