THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet has given in-principle nod for the proposed Monorail in the state, which will come up in Kozhikode.The Public Works Department (PWD) has entrusted the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) to prepare a detailed project report in this regard. The feasibility report has been completed for the mass transit from the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital to Airport.Public Works Minister V K Ebrahimkunju said that the discussion was held with a German company, TUV Rheinland, which had a record of expertise in the field. The company would provide supervision and quality certification of the project.The detailed project report will be completed in four months. The project is expected to be on Private Public Partnership (PPP) model. Harikesh P C, chief operating officer, KRFB, said that the Board was studying the architecture and marketing of the monorail.The first-phase of the monorail will be from Medical College to Meenchantha at a cost of Rs 970 crore. Monorail facility to Ramanattukara and then to Airport will come under the second phase.The project has been prepared considering the city traffic with the projection of next 30 years. There will be 13 stations which could be developed for commercial purposes enabling extra funds, he said. “Monorail is a cost-intensive project. But the road below it will not be disturbed and there is no need for land acquisition too,” Harikesh said.Considering the heavy capital investment, monorail facility from Medical College to Ramanattukara has been proposed in two phases. The proposed corridor will pass through major areas of the city such as Mavoor Road, Mananchira, Palayam and Kallayi, which gives access to the mofussil bus stands and railway stations. There should be financial support from the government as it cannot be funded completely by an agency. As the rakes have to be replaced once in seven years, the company which operates it cannot get back the money from monorail operation.
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