Kochi metro trail runs
Kochi Metro (Komet) in Kerala, India covering 22 stations and 25.65km of metro line run from Aluva to Petta. The £627m, $950m operated by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, a joint venture between the Central and State Governments of India. The project will be operated under a build operate and transfer (BOT) basis for a 30-year concession period. Alstom was awarded a £70.62m ($107m) contract to supply 25 Metropolis train sets for the Kochi Metro. Heavy road traffic congestion led to the emergence of a 20th century metro rail system in Kochi, which will reduce traffic congestion and provide commuters safe and rapid transport and reduce pollution and noise levels in the inner cities.
The project also created employment for the local community. For phase II work, the government of Kerala requested DMRC to extend the present metro to Nedumbaserry Kochi International Airport in February 2008 which got approved in September 2012, which includes an extension from Aluva to Angamaly via Cochin International Airport, an extension of Petta to Tripunithura and branch line from Palarivattom to Infopark via Kakanad. The metro stations will have UPS and a manned ticket office machine and smart cards and automatic barrier systems.
Japan International Cooperation Agency provided a £264m $400m loan for the project.