T'puram: Monorail feasibility report finalised

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The feasibility report of the proposed monorail project between Pallippuram and Neyyattinkara, covering a total distance of 41.8 km in two phases, will be submitted by NATPAC on Wednesday.The first phase of the Rs 5,500 crore project, which will change the face of the capital city and suburbs for ever, if implemented, will be from Technocity, near Pallippuram, to Thampanoor (22.6 km). The second phase will be from Thampanoor to Neyyattinkara (19.2 km). Thirty-five stops are proposed on the total stretch.In the first phase, with an outlay of Rs 3,000 crore, there will be 19 stops at a distance of 800 to 1,500 m. Technocity extension, Technocity, Pallippuram (where the yard for the monorail is proposed), Thamarakulam, Kaniyapuram, RVTI Junction, Kazhakkoottam, Kariavattom, Pangappara Guru Mandir, Pangappara CH Memorial School, Sreekariyam, Pongumoodu, Ulloor, Kesavadasapuram, Pattom, Plamoodu, Palayam, Statue, Thampanoor etc. are the identified stops.Double-storeyed stations, ticket counters, escalators, shopping complexes, overbridge and air-conditioned low floor buses for feeder service have been suggested as part of the project. The feeder services have been suggested from the city centre to various suburban areas.The second phase of the project from Thampanoor to Neyyattinkara will dot 16 stations. Killippalam, Karamana, Kaimanam, Pappanamcode, Karaikkamandapam, Vellayani Junction, Pravachambalam, Pallichal, Paroorkuzhi, Mudavoorpara, Balaramapuram, Vazhimukku, Pathamkallu, Moonukallumoodu, Aalummoodu and Neyattinkara are the stops proposed in the second phase, which is estimated to have a total implementation cost of Rs 2,500 crore.The per-km cost of the project is estimated at Rs 135 crore for the first phase and Rs 128 crore for the second. NATPAC has proposed a 4-6 car monorail for the project, with a system to cross stations at an interval of five minutes each. Each car will have a capacity to accommodate 150 passengers.NATPAC has also proposed to form a company like DMRC to manage monorail. Hotels, snack bars and shopping complexes are also proposed under the company, so as to generate returns on the investment and make it self-sustaining. A commercial corridor between Kazhakkoottam and Kesavadasapuram is the main attraction of this project.