Major changes proposed in DPR

Thiruvananthapuram: The Urban Mass Transit Company Limited (UMTC) has recommended major changes in the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed light metro project in the state capital. It has submitted a draft report of the comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) to Kerala Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), the implementing agency.
The draft report says that the developments the city has witnessed in the past couple of years have made it necessary to create a new DPR on par with the changes in the city.
The new shopping centres, roads, construction of port, bridges and the expansion of Medical College Hospital, Technopark etc have had an impact on the usual hangouts and mode of commutation of people. The light metro has to encompass all these changes to become the future of the city, the report noted. Vizhinjam port, Lulu Mall, Kazhakkoottam bypass etc were not there in the city five years ago when the first CMP was prepared, it said.
The report recommends major changes in the alignment, route, stops etc of the light metro to encompass the changes. There were suggestions in the report to consider expanding the metro from Attingal to Neyyattinkara as well to cater to the transporting needs of people from all walks of life. The alignment has to be redesigned to benefit the people who want to travel to the Medical College Hospital, port, Technopark and also to the airport. “It is a draft report and a final one will be submitted next month. Before submitting a final report, a stakeholders meeting will be held next week to discuss the points mentioned in the CMP,” said M P Ramnavas, project director at KMRL.
The Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Limited (KRTL) had prepared a CMP in 2017. On the basis of the CMP a DPR was also submitted in 2021. However, KRTL was dissolved owing to the objection raised by the Centre and the work of the light metro was handed over to KMRL. This delayed the project and the validity of the CMP expired after five years. Due to this, KMRL took a decision to form a new CMP and UMTC was entrusted with it.
“The CMP prepared by KRTCL is old as the choice of people and the nature of the city has changed a lot in the meantime. So the new CMP is crucial in deciding alignment and new DPR,’’ said Ram Navas, project director, KMRL.
As per the DPR submitted by KRTCL, the phase 1 of the light metro project is 21.8km from Pallipuram to Karamana and its expected cost was Rs 4,673 crore. There were plans to expand light metro later to Technopark and Vizhinjam port as well.