THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (Metro Rail News): Shashi Tharoor, the Member of Parliament (MP) from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, has written to the Chief Minister of Kerala V.D. Satheesan, about the urgent need of a metro in the city and an extension plan for the metro. The letter is in view of the recently submitted Detailed Project Report (DPR) of a fully elevated 31 km metro project for Thiruvananthapuram. 

According to The New Indian Express, Tharoor wrote a letter to the Chief Minister describing the urgency to decongest the city. He suggested that a comprehensive metro network with extension plans to Technocity (Technopark Phase IV), Vizhinjam International Seaport and the city’s eastern parts over the next 5-8 years should be announced by the government with plans for last-mile connectivity.

Earlier this month, the DPR of the Thiruvananthapuram Metro was submitted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), the implementing agency. Before the submission of the final DPR, Tharoor urged the CM to give consideration for an underground metro along the busiest routes of the city. 

Debate over Underground Section

The announcement of a fully elevated corridor has initiated a debate over an elevated metro stretch over underground metro construction. An underground metro construction would reduce the land acquisition requirements, which might lessen the project time, as the process is much time consuming. Moreover, it can decrease the traffic disturbance and landscape disruption caused during above ground construction.

While the underground metro seems like a better option, it is not economically viable. It increases the cost of construction by at least three to four times more than the elevated metro construction. Further, the geological complexities also make the construction of underground metro challenging. 

Also Read: DMRC submits DPR of Thiruvananthapuram Metro Project