Sat Feb 22 16:12:40 UTC 2025: ## Kochi Metro’s Kakkanad Extension Back on Track After Resolving Technical Disputes
**KOCHI, February 22, 2025** – The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL) announced today that the long-delayed Kakkanad extension project is back on track following the resolution of technical disputes between the general consultant and contracting firm. Work on the 11.20 km extension, connecting Kochi city to its IT hub, will resume in full swing with girder casting beginning March 1st at a Kalamassery yard.
The project, facing significant delays due to funding issues and technical snags regarding pile and girder parameters, is now expected to see accelerated progress. KMRL officials expressed confidence in meeting the June 2026 deadline for viaduct completion, stating that the commencement of girder casting will help recover lost time. To expedite the piling work, at least two more rigs will be deployed within a week, supplementing the work already completed at several of the nine planned metro stations.
Addressing earlier public concerns regarding stalled work sites along Civil Line Road, officials confirmed that resurfacing of alternative roads, including Puthiya Road-Palachuvadu Road, has commenced to manage traffic flow during construction. The lack of dedicated parking at the proposed stations will be addressed by establishing pay-and-park facilities at identified plots of land. Despite the significant delays, the project is now poised for a rapid advance, bringing the much-anticipated Kochi metro expansion closer to completion.
First Piper 