The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has signed an interim consultancy agreement with Kerala Rapid Transit Ltd (KRTL) for the Rs 6,728-crore 'light metro' in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.
KRTL is a special purpose vehicle set up by the state government to execute the mass rapid transport system for the two cities.
S.D. Sharma, Director, Business Development, DMRC, and P.L. Sheikh Pareeth, Managing Director, KRTL, signed the interim consultancy agreement in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his cabinet colleagues, and E Sreedharan, principal adviser, DMRC.
In the coming days, DMRC will prepare the tender documents for procurement of rolling stock, land acquisition survey, estimates for the flyovers, identification of major utilities and utility shifting plans.
DMRC had sought the interim consultancy to save time and cost escalation as the Ministry of Urban Development had not yet granted in-principle approval for or cleared the participation of the Centre and its 20 per cent equity contribution in the project.
The 21.82-km light metro in Thiruvananthapuram will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 4,219 crore, while the 13.33-km project in Kozhikode is estimated to cost Rs 2,509 crore.
The Thiruvananthapuram project will be completed in five years and that in Kozhikode in four years, the Chief Minister said.
He said despite the 'light metro' tag, the proposed projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode will more or less match the amenities and conveniences of the Kochi metro.