The proposal The
Union Urban Development Ministry decided to consider the proposal for a Metro in Kozhikode after the success of the
Delhi Metro and signed up for drawing the detailed project report (DPR) of the
Rs.27.71 billion Kozhikode metro transport project with
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation as a
feasibility study for the introduction of suburban services in Kozhikode city. The Ministry decided to bear 50% of the cost of the preparation of the DPR for the city that comes under the population cut-off bracket. The preliminary feasibility study had been carried out by the
National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) in association with the Kerala Road Fund Board in December 2008. Based on this feasibility report, the Board entrusted Wilber Smith to conduct the study in June 2009. Already, the NATPAC has submitted a metro rail project covering a total distance of 32.6 km from
Karipur to the
Kozhikode Medical College. The cost of the project was estimated at Rs. 27.71 billion and was expected be completed within five years. The monorail project which replaced the metro rail project was estimated to cost Rs 1,991 crore has received a bid from the lone bidder Bombardier consortium, and was almost double of the estimate. The project was scrapped and the Light Metro has been approved.
Proposed route As per the proposal for Metro, it would start from
Karipur Airport, touching
Ramanattukara, Meenchanda, Mini- Bypass, Arayadathupalam and culminate at the Medical College. An estimated 2,083,000 people would get the benefits of the new transportation system by 2031. The project, which can be partly finished within three years, will be economically and technically feasible. However the detailed project report prepared by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the alignment for
Kozhikode Monorail is retained for the Light metro project.
The funding The Union government was in favour of implementing the project with private participation, ruling out its own financial involvement. The Ministry of Urban Development and the Planning Commission were also against government investment in the project, and refused to accept it as a project in line with the
Delhi Metro and
Chennai Metro. The political rivalry between the earlier Left Front government in Kerala and the UPA government at the Centre was a major reason for such developments and the slow down in the project. The change in government in Kerala changed that scenario, making the Kozhikode Metro one of the top priorities of the UDF government. But later, not to affect the
Kochi Metro project The Kerala cabinet under the Chief Ministership of
Oommen Chandy decided to give clearance only for the
Kozhikode Monorail project, replacing the Metro rail project. The newly proposed Light Metro is proposed to be implemented as government initiative expecting a viability gap funding from the central and state government. Remaining fund is expected to be sourced internally and externally form competent agencies. ==Proposes==