Fri Feb 07 20:17:13 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Budget Allocates Funds for Kochi Metro Expansion, Water Metro Development

**KOCHI, Kerala – February 8, 2025** – The Kerala state budget has allocated significant funds for transportation infrastructure projects in Kochi, including expansions to the metro and water metro systems. The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) will receive ₹289 crore for its operations, along with an additional ₹26.37 crore for non-motorised projects such as footpath improvements. A substantial ₹159.60 crore has been earmarked for the Kochi Water Metro, to be used for acquiring new ferries and developing additional terminals.

KMRL Managing Director Loknath Behera welcomed the budget’s inclusion of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode metro rail projects, stating that comprehensive mobility plans for these cities have already been submitted to the government. A draft detailed project report for Thiruvananthapuram’s metro is awaiting government approval, while KMRL will prepare a DPR for Kozhikode’s metro following a government announcement.

However, the budget notably lacked funding for several key Kochi infrastructure projects. Despite a request from the Kochi Corporation, there was no significant allocation for new road corridors to alleviate city congestion, with only ₹15 crore allocated for existing road development. Furthermore, the long-awaited redevelopment of the dilapidated Ernakulam KSRTC bus stand, and beautification of Fort Kochi beach, were not included in the budget.

In contrast, a substantial ₹5,207.43 crore has been allocated through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for road development projects across five other Kerala cities (Kannur, Kozhikode, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram), leaving Kochi excluded from this funding round as well as the ongoing City Road Improvement Project (CRIP).

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