Kochi Metro's Pink Line costs rise and KMRL asks the State for a fresh sanction

29 October 2026

Kochi Metro Rail Limited has gone back to the State government for a revised administrative sanction for its Phase II work, because the wait for approvals pushed the cost up. The 11.2-km Pink Line, estimated at ₹1,957.05 crore, starts at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium; its detailed project report went in during January 2019 but clearance came only in November 2022, and permission to take the loan followed in June 2023. Base cost and taxes both climbed in between. The lender is the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, based in Beijing, which has sanctioned ₹1,016.24 crore. A bank team spent three days in Kochi going over physical and financial progress, construction safety, land acquisition, environmental management and fund use, and said it was satisfied. About 6.5 km of viaduct is up. KMRL Managing Director G. Priyanka chaired the review.