KOCHI (Metro Rail News): Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) requires eight additional trainsets to expand its fleet to 33 for smooth operations once the Pink Line or the Phase II opens. Without them, the time between trains could increase sharply and inconvenience passengers.
Even if funding is cleared, the new trainsets will take around two years to arrive after the order is placed. This creates a clear gap. So the funding issue of trainsets will further delay Phase II. Phase II is now promised for August 2027 already delayed from the original December 2025 target.
The system currently runs 25 trains from Phase I, 18 in daily service and seven kept as maintenance reserve. Procurement is stuck over funding. Although the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is ready to support, both the Union and Kerala governments must agree.
According to The Indian Express report, Shri Loknath Behera said that ‘‘Optimum utilisation of the resources of Phase I and Phase II will require eight more trains. With 33 trains, KMRL expects to maintain a 7-10 minute headway. Without the additional trains, the interval between services could increase substantially, around 20 minutes for Phase II operations.”
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As a 50:50 project, KMRL plans to seek a central share.Until then, the state may have to bear the full estimated cost of ₹275 crore. The central government has given similar assistance to states including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
Current Progress of Kochi Metro Phase II:The Pink line
Kochi Metro Phase II consists of 11.2 km with 11 stations. Phase II network of Kochi Metro Rail project will connect the Central park of Ernakulam of Infopark and SmartCity via Kakkanad,with plans for multimodal links to buses, Water Metro, public bicycle sharing system and more.
The Pink Line itself is under construction, it is not operational yet. Officials plan to complete civil works around June 2027 and commissioning for August 2027.The original deadline was December 2025, Phase II had so many delays due to delays in approval of funding processes, land acquisitions and utility shifting.
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