The Kochi Metro’s 1.5 km extension project from Pettah to S N Junction has received a major boost as the land acquisition process to widen the corridor and build two stations will be completed by 31 May 2019.

The project is being undertaken by Kochi Metro Rail (KMRL). A total of 2.75 acre have to be acquired for preparatory work to widen the road to four-lane and two acre will be required for constructing stations at Vadakkekotta and S N Junction.

The total extent of land required is located in 182 land parcels.

Apart from this, the tendering process to select the civil contractor for the metro viaduct is in final stages. Online tendering will be opened on 27 May 2019 and the contracting firm is expected to begin ground-level work on the stretch from June 2019.

The firm will have to construct the Metro viaduct from Petta to S N Junction, two elevated stations, and a two-lane bridge across Panamkutty river at Pettah. The existing bridge will be retained.
 
The project will be later extended further up to the Thripunithura railway station as part of the Metro’s Phase-I and the upcoming Phase-II, the 11 km long Kakkanad extension.

The entire work, including the bridge, viaduct, and stations, is expected to be completed by May 2021.

L&T Infrastructure Engineering is the detailed design consultant for S N Junction and railway station extensions.

The contract worth Rs 3.06 crore was awarded in June 2018, and design is in final stages. EQMS India was assigned with preparation of the Environmental Mitigation/Monitoring Plan in April 2019.

In December 2018, Seguro Foundations & Structure was awarded the contract for widening the road along the proposed Metro corridor. The state government had accorded administrative sanction of Rs 123 crore for preparatory work for the project.