Kozhikode Metro Plans Progress With 18 Km Corridor: Project To Follow Thiruvananthapuram Metro
Loknath Behera, Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), has clarified that the proposed Kozhikode Metro project is still in the study phase and that a more detailed examination of its feasibility will be carried out after the completion of the Thiruvananthapuram Metro project.
Behera, a retired IPS officer, also noted that implementing a light metro in Kozhikode would actually be more expensive than a regular metro, mainly because several components required for a light metro would need to be imported, whereas India already has a robust production ecosystem for full-scale metro systems.
Speaking to the media, Behera said, “The feasibility study conducted so far has identified an 18 km corridor for the Kozhikode Metro. However, we need to conduct a detailed project report (DPR) and additional studies before taking a final call. Our immediate priority is to complete the Thiruvananthapuram Metro, after which the Kozhikode project will be examined in depth.”
The Kozhikode Metro, first proposed over a decade ago, has undergone several changes in plan and structure. Initially conceived as a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) connecting Meenchanda to the Kozhikode Medical College, the project was later replaced by a monorail proposal due to financial considerations.
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The Kerala Monorail Corporation Limited (KMCL) was established in 2012 to implement the Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram monorail projects, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) acting as the general consultant. However, cost overruns and a lack of competitive bidding led to the project being shelved.
Subsequently, the State government proposed a Light Metro, which was expected to be more cost-effective. But recent evaluations, including remarks from Behera, have suggested that the Light Metro model may actually prove more expensive in the long run, as it would depend heavily on imported technology and components.
The 2025–26 Kerala Budget, presented by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal, renewed hopes for the Kozhikode Metro, stating that the government intends to revive the project after the Thiruvananthapuram Metro is completed.
The government now favours a regular metro system over a light metro, citing cost efficiency, scalability, and local manufacturing capabilities.
Historically, the project has had several iterations. The original proposal envisioned a 32.6 km corridor stretching from Karipur Airport to Kozhikode Medical College, estimated at ₹2,771 crore.
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Later, the monorail plan, estimated at ₹1,991 crore, failed to take off due to limited interest from bidders, with Bombardier Transportation emerging as the only bidder.
As per the current plan, the Kozhikode Metro corridor is likely to span around 18 km, connecting key urban points like Meenchanda, Arayadathupalam, Mananchira, and Medical College, benefiting an estimated 2 million residents by 2031.
