Kerala’s Booming Development: An Inside Look at 16 Upcoming Mega Infrastructure Projects
Kerala, the southernmost state of India, is known for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. However, it is also home to several large-scale development projects that aim to transform the state into a modern and vibrant hub of economic activity. From infrastructure projects like the Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road and the Kochi Water Metro, to futuristic initiatives like the Global Industrial Finance and Trade City (GIFT City) and the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON), there are numerous mega projects underway in the state.
In this blog, we take a look at 16 of the most significant upcoming projects in Kerala that are expected to shape the state’s future. From transportation and communication to industrial development, these projects promise to bring about significant changes to the way of life in Kerala and boost the state’s economic growth.
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Kochi Metro Phase 2
Kochi Metro’s Phase 2 project is an expansion that includes the construction of a new 11.2 km Pink Line with 11 stations. The line will run from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark II in Kakkanad and will be elevated. The project was approved by the Kerala government in 2018, but bidding for construction has yet to begin.
The project is currently awaiting approval from the central government, and it is expected to be funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The station names along the route include Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamughal, Kakkanad Junction, Cochin SEZ, Chittethukara, KINFRA, and InfoPark 1/Smart City 1 and InfoPark 2/Smart City 2.
The estimated cost of the Kochi Metro Phase -2 project is Rs 2,310 crore.
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Ernakulam Railway Station Redevelopment Project
The Ernakulam Junction Railway Station is undergoing a major renovation to bring it up to world-class standards. The project, which has a budget of ₹299.95 crore, is being carried out by the Southern Railway. As part of the preliminary work, the railway has completed a soil investigation, topographical survey, and the shifting of facilities. The re-development is being designed to meet the changing needs of passengers for the next four decades and will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure.
The renovated railway station will have a total built-up area of approximately 62,000 square meters, with renovations taking place on the eastern and western sides of the existing station building. The western side of the station will feature a new terminal building with ticketing areas, waiting lounges, and commercial spaces, all connected to the platforms by escalators and lifts. The eastern side of the station will include a separate three-story structure with a passenger booking facility, railway hospital, and various railway administrative offices. There are also plans to construct a multi-level car park with electric vehicle charging stations. The station will also be connected to the Ernakulam South metro station via a skywalk.
Along with this Ernakulam Town Station will also be Redeveloped.
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Kollam Railway Station Redevelopment
Kollam railway station in India has been selected for redevelopment into a world-class station with a range of modern facilities. The project, which is expected to be completed within 39 months, will be handled directly by the Railway Construction Organisation.
The upgraded station will feature an air-conditioned roof plaza connecting the two terminals, complete with passenger lounges, restrooms, food courts, children’s play areas, and special amenities for various groups including senior citizens, people with disabilities, and expectant mothers. The roof plaza will be connected to all platforms via escalators and lifts, and the buildings will be designed in an ethnic architecture style.
In the first phase of the project, a four-story multi-level car park with a capacity for 300-400 cars will be constructed, along with similar facilities for two-wheelers. The station development project will also include landscaping, gardening, and tree planting, as well as sustainable features such as a rainwater harvesting system, sewage treatment plant, eco-friendly cooling system, and 100% LED lighting. A total of 30,000 sq m of land, spread across 67 acres, will be used for the construction work.
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623 Km Coastal Highway, Kerala
The construction of a new 623 km coastal highway connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod in Kerala, India is set to begin, with preliminary land acquisition proceedings now underway. The highway, which will have a width of 14 m, will start at Pozhiyoor in Thiruvananthapuram district and end at Kunjathoor near Thalapady in Kasaragod district.
It is expected to cost approximately Rs 6,500 crore and will be implemented in three phases. The highway will run parallel to the coast and pass through several districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod.
The Kerala Road Fund Board project management unit (KRFB-PMU) will be responsible for constructing 468 km of the highway, with the remaining distance to be built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Bharat Mala Pariyojana Scheme. The state government and KRFB plan to complete the land acquisition process within two years, and the draft of the detailed project report (DPR) has already been finalized.
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Vizhinjam International Sea Port
The Vizhinjam International Port project is a proposed new deep-water port being developed in the Vizhinjam area of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The port is being built with the aim of improving the state’s shipping and trade infrastructure, as well as boosting the local economy and creating employment opportunities.
The project is being implemented in three phases, with an estimated cost of Rs 7,525 crore. The first phase, which is expected to be completed by 2025, involves the construction of a multi-purpose terminal with a capacity to handle 2.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of container cargo per year. The second phase, which is expected to be completed by 2027, will see the construction of a dedicated container terminal with a capacity of 4.1 million TEUs per year. The third and final phase, which is expected to be completed by 2035, will involve the construction of a liquid bulk terminal and a passenger terminal.
The Vizhinjam International Port will feature a number of modern amenities and facilities, including a dedicated berth for cruise ships, a container terminal with advanced handling equipment, and a multi-purpose terminal for handling a variety of cargoes. The port will also have a dedicated service area for maintenance and repair of ships, as well as a state-of-the-art cargo handling system to ensure efficient and smooth operations.
The Vizhinjam International Port is expected to bring a number of benefits to the region, including increased trade and economic development, the creation of new employment opportunities, and the promotion of tourism. The port is also expected to play a key role in the state’s efforts to reduce its reliance on existing ports and improve its overall logistics capabilities.
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Mumbai Kanyakumari Economic Corridor
The Mumbai-Kanyakumari economic corridor is set to receive a major boost with the recent allocation of INR 64,000 crores in the 2021-2022 budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This funding will go towards the construction of the Mumbai-Kanyakumari highway, a vital transportation route that connects the cities of Panvel and Kanyakumari. The highway, also known as NH-66, runs along the west coast of India and passes through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
It touches the shores of the Arabian Sea at various points, including Maravanthe in Karnataka and Thalassery, Alappuzha, and Kollam in Kerala. In total, the Mumbai-Kanyakumari corridor spans a distance of 1,619 km, with 644 km of that located in Kerala. This important infrastructure project will no doubt have a significant impact on the economic development and connectivity of the region.
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Kochi Smart City Project
The Kochi Smart City project is a major urban development initiative aimed at transforming the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala in India, into a modern, livable, and sustainable metropolis. The project was launched in 2015 with the goal of addressing the challenges faced by the city, such as traffic congestion, pollution, and inadequate infrastructure.
As part of the Kochi Smart City project, various initiatives have been undertaken to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. These include the development of a high-speed broadband network, the construction of new roads and flyovers, the upgrading of public transportation systems, and the promotion of sustainable urban planning practices.
In addition, the project aims to create new job opportunities and foster economic growth by attracting businesses and investors to the city. With its ambitious goals and far-reaching impact, the Kochi Smart City project is poised to make a significant contribution to the development of Kerala and the region as a whole.
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Petrochemical Park Project
The Petrochemical Park is a major development project being undertaken in the state of Kerala, India. Located in Ambalamugal on a 481-acre site, the park is being developed by KINFRA, a state-owned agency, to provide a home for downstream industries that produce products such as paint, adhesive medicine, and napkins from propylene derivatives. The government has allocated 170 acres of land within the park to BPCL for the construction of a Polyol project at the Kochi Refinery.
The project is expected to cost a total of Rs 1,200 crore, including infrastructure development, and will bring an estimated investment of Rs 10,000 crore and create 11,000 jobs. In the first phase of the project, infrastructure facilities will be developed, with the contract for this work being awarded to Mary Matha Infrastructures Pvt Ltd. The second phase will see the development of an effluent treatment plant and pharma and healthcare zones at a cost of Rs 30 crore. In total, 230 acres of land have been allocated to 35 investors as part of the Petrochemical Park project.
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Kochi Water Metro Extension Project
Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala in India, is home to a groundbreaking new urban water transport system known as the Kochi Water Metro. This innovative project is spread across 10 islands and connects the city’s island communities to the mainland through a fleet of 78 battery-operated electric hybrid boats that ply along 38 modern terminals and 15 routes covering a total distance of 76 kilometers. The boats are equipped with Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) batteries, which can be quickly charged in just 15 minutes and have a lifespan of between 7-10 years.
Once Phase 1 of the Kochi Water Metro is fully operational in 2024, it is expected to serve 34,000 passengers a day, providing a fast, reliable, and state-of-the-art transportation option for residents. Currently, only one of the 15 proposed routes is operational. The Kochi Water Metro is a major achievement for the city, which has grown rapidly in recent years and is now a well-developed trading center and a hub for information technology, sea-based industries, and tourism. The new transport system is a welcome improvement over the often poor conditions of ferries and jetties that were previously used in the city.
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Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road Project
The Tiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road (ORR) is a major transportation infrastructure project being planned by the government of the state of Kerala in India. The ORR is a greenfield access-controlled highway that will be developed as a four-lane (expandable up to six lanes) roadway with a length of approximately 77.7 km. The ORR will be located on the eastern side of the city of Tiruvananthapuram, which is situated on the coast with the Arabian Sea to the west.
The ORR project is divided into two main alignments, the Northern Ring (29 km) and the Southern Ring (47.9 km). The Northern Ring will run between Navaikulam and Thekadda, while the Southern Ring will be further divided into two sections: one 35.3 km long between Thekadda and Vizhinjam Bypass and the other 12.6 km long between Thekadda and Mangalapuram. The four-lane highway will be expanded to six lanes if traffic counts warrant it.
The ORR is a significant project because it will connect two major economic growth hubs in the region: the Technopark and Technocity complex on the northern side and the Vizhinjam Port complex on the southern side of Tiruvananthapuram. In addition to the four-lane main carriageway (expandable to six lanes), the ORR project will include two-lane service lanes on either side and an additional two lanes for a potential mass rapid transit system.
The state government also plans to develop designated planned development zones, known as Special Invest Regions (SIR), along 2.5 km on either side of the ORR. The SIR will feature mixed land use and public and private land ownership. The ORR project is expected to cost Rs 4,868 crore, with the center and state sharing the cost burden. It will require the acquisition of 1,500 acres of land and will pass through 31 villages.
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Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro Project
The Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro is a planned light rail transit (LRT) system that is set to be built in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala in India. The project is being developed by the Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Limited (KRTL), a special purpose vehicle of the government of Kerala.
The first phase of the project, which consists of a single line with 19 stations, has undergone several revisions and delays. In 2016, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was appointed as the interim consultant for the project, but it withdrew from the project in 2018 due to slow progress. The project was put on hold in 2017 due to concerns about its high cost and low ridership projections, but a revised plan prepared by the DMRC was approved by the KRTL board in October 2020 and by the state government in February 2021.
The first phase of the Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro is expected to cost Rs 4,673 crore and will run along a 21.821 km route from Technocity to Karamana, with 19 stations along the way. The project is still in the planning and approval stages, with no construction or operation currently underway. Once completed, the Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro is expected to provide a fast, reliable, and modern transportation option for residents and visitors of the city.
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Khozikode Light Metro Project
The Kozhikode Light Metro is a proposed light rail transit (LRT) system that will serve the city of Kozhikode in the state of Kerala, India. The project is being developed by the Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Limited (KRTL) and will consist of a single line with 14 stations. The first phase of the Kozhikode Light Metro, which is expected to cost Rs 2,773 crore, will span a distance of 13.3 km and run along an elevated route from Meenchanda to Kozhikode Medical College.
The project has undergone several revisions and delays, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) serving as the interim consultant in 2016 before withdrawing from the project in 2018 due to slow progress. The project was put on hold in 2017 due to concerns about its high cost and low ridership projections, but a revised plan was approved by the KRTL board in October 2020 and by the state government in February 2021. The Kozhikode Light Metro is still in the planning and approval stages, with no construction or operation currently underway. Once completed, it is expected to provide a fast, reliable, and modern transportation option for the city.
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Mysuru Malabar Economic Corridor
The Mysuru-Malabar National Highway is a proposed economic corridor that aims to connect the cities of Bengaluru, Mandya, Mysuru, and Kozhikode in the southern Indian states of Karnataka and Kerala. The highway has been identified as a key project under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, a national highways development initiative.
Originally, the highway was planned to run from Bengaluru to Mallapuram, passing through Mandya, Mysuru, and Nilgiri. However, the route has since been revised to run through Mysuru, Nanjangud, Sultan Bathery in Wayanad, and Kozhikode. This revised route is expected to provide an important transportation link between these major cities and facilitate economic growth in the region.
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Upcoming Mega Projects in Kerala : GIFT City, Kochi
The Global Industrial Finance and Trade City (GIFT City) is a proposed non-manufacturing cluster that is set to be developed near Angamaly in the state of Kerala, India. The GIFT City is part of the Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor project, which aims to promote economic growth and development in the region.
According to the Kerala state budget for 2022-23, the GIFT City will be developed on a total of 2,000 acres of land, with 1,000 acres to be acquired through the state plan and the remaining 1,000 acres to be acquired with financial assistance from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). It is expected that the GIFT City will attract investment of INR 10,000 crore and provide direct employment to 22,000 people and indirect employment to 80,000 people. The project is still in the planning and development stages, with no operational status at this time.
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Silver Line Rail Project : Tiruvananthapuram Kasaragod High Speed Rail Corridor
The Silver Line project is a semi-high speed rail line that aims to connect the cities of Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod in the state of Kerala in India. The 530.6 km corridor, which is expected to cost Rs 63,941 crore, will have 11 stations and aims to reduce travel time between the two cities to less than 4 hours. The project will be executed by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL), a joint venture between the government of Kerala and the Ministry of Railways of the government of India, and is expected to be completed by 2030.
The Silver Line will use standard gauge tracks, have a top speed of 200 km/hr and an average speed of 130 km/hr. It will also feature 25 KV AC overhead catenary, ETCS Level-2 of ERTMS signalling, and 9 or 12 coach trains. The project is expected to require land acquisition of 1,226.45 hectares and is funded by a combination of the government of India, the government of Kerala, bilateral loans, and miscellaneous sources.
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Kerala Fibre Optic Network Project
The Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON) is a major infrastructure project aimed at providing Internet access to 20 lakh below-poverty-line (BPL) households in the state of Kerala, India. Launched in 2021, the project involves the laying of 30,000 km of fibre optic cable using the existing network of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). As of July 2022, over 80% of the network has been installed and around 26,000 government officers have been connected.
KFON has also shortlisted six ISPs to provide Internet connection to 14,000 BPL families in the first phase of the project, with 100 BPL families in each of the state’s 140 assembly constituencies being identified to receive free Internet connection through local bodies. The project aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure universal Internet access in Kerala.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Kerala is set to undergo a major transformation with the implementation of several mega projects in the near future. These upcoming mega projects in kerala range from infrastructure development, such as the construction of new airports and highways, to cultural and tourism initiatives, such as the development of theme parks and cultural centers. These projects not only have the potential to drive economic growth and create employment opportunities, but also to improve the quality of life for the people of Kerala. As we look towards the future, it is clear that these mega projects will play a crucial role in shaping the direction of development in the state.
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