The ₹2,500-crore Kozhikode Light Metro project has been hanging fire for a long time and the State government is yet to submit a revised project report to the Centre for its approval.
Sources said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) had been submitted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in line with the new metro policy in December 2017. But the Finance Department is unable to arrive at a decision to secure the mandatory clearance from the Public Investment Board (PIB) of the Centre.
The Light Metro hit a rough patch ever since the DMRC pulled out of the proposed multi-crore project early last year.
The DMRC had quit when the State government showed reluctance to sign the turnkey consultancy agreement for the preparatory works of the transit system.
The DMRC had closed its office in Kozhikode in February. The government has not appointed a new consultant for the project.
Previously, Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd (KRTL), the Special Purpose Vehicle formed by the State government for the implementation of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Light Metro projects, had been tasked to collect necessary details for the project. The DMRC later revised the DPR for the purpose. The project, which was conceived in 2012-13, was planned to be completed by 2021.
The DMRC was roped in by the State government to construct the Panniyankara rail overbridge in connection with the Light Metro project. Even the alignment of the rail overbridge was modified to suit the project. The ₹40 -crore bridge was commissioned in December, 2016.
Sources said that a survey had already been conducted for the construction of metro stations in Kozhikode. The land required for the project is 10.05 hectares which include 1.5 hectares in private possession. The proposed light metro would cover a distance of 13.30 km from Meenchanda to Kozhikode Medical College with 14 stations.
