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Thiruvananthapuram Metro Sparks Political Firestorm Amid Local Polls

Kerala's Chief Minister has announced the alignment for Thiruvananthapuram's first Metro phase. The Congress immediately labeled it an election stunt ahead of local polls. Interestingly, the same government had declared the project unfeasible back in 2018. The timing raises questions about political motivations during this tight three-cornered contest.

Key Points: Kerala Metro Rail Plan Triggers Political Row Before Polls

  • 31-km corridor with 27 stations to connect IT hubs and transport terminals
  • Congress leader cites 2018 Assembly rejection of project feasibility
  • Project execution assigned to Kochi Metro Rail Limited KMRL
  • Funding sources and project structure remain unclear according to critics
2 min read

Metro rail plan in Thiruvananthapuram triggers political row, Cong calls it election stunt

CM Vijayan's Metro announcement faces Congress criticism as election stunt. 31-km project with 27 stations proposed amid tight local body contest.

"Now, on the eve of the local body polls, the sudden announcement clearly reveals it to be an election stunt. - K. Muraleedharan"

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 8

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s announcement unveiling the alignment of the first phase of the Thiruvananthapuram Metro Rail project has triggered a political storm, with senior Congress leader K. Muraleedharan terming it an “election stunt” ahead of the local body polls.

Vijayan, in a social media post on Friday, described the project as a “landmark step in reshaping Kerala’s capital for the future.”

The proposed 31-km corridor, featuring 27 stations, is expected to connect key information technology hubs, major transport terminals, and important administrative and healthcare centres across the city.

The project will be executed by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), which has already begun preliminary infrastructure work in the capital.

However, Muraleedharan, who is leading the Congress-led UDF’s campaign for the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, dismissed the announcement as politically motivated.

“When I was a legislator in 2018, I moved an adjournment motion demanding a Metro Rail for the state capital. Chief Minister Vijayan had then replied in the Assembly that the project was not feasible,” he said on Saturday.

“Now, on the eve of the local body polls, the sudden announcement clearly reveals it to be an election stunt. We have always supported the idea of a Metro for Thiruvananthapuram, but the government has provided no clarity on the source of funding or the project structure,” Muraleedharan said, adding that the ongoing NH widening works along the proposed alignment have already caused major delays and chaos.

The announcement also comes at a politically sensitive time, with the CPI(M)-led LDF government seeking to retain control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, where a tight three-cornered contest is expected among the LDF, UDF, and BJP.

Interestingly, the idea of a Metro Rail for the capital is not new. Over a decade ago, the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, after consultations with “Metroman” E. Sreedharan, had given an in-principle nod for the project.

However, it failed to materialise due to procedural and administrative hurdles.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Muraleedharan has a valid point. The same government that called it unfeasible in 2018 is now announcing it before elections. Where is the funding plan? We need transparency, not political drama.
A
Arjun K
Kochi Metro has been successful, so KMRL handling this project gives me confidence. But the timing does seem suspicious - why announce now when the idea has been pending for over 10 years?
S
Sarah B
As someone who moved here from Bangalore, I can say metro systems transform cities. But the NH widening works mentioned in the article are already causing chaos. Hope they coordinate better this time.
V
Vikram M
Both LDF and UDF have played politics with this project. Oommen Chandy announced it, then Vijayan rejected it, now it's back before elections. When will our capital get the infrastructure it deserves?
M
Michael C
Connecting IT hubs, transport terminals, and hospitals - this is exactly what a modern city needs. Political parties should support good infrastructure projects regardless of who announces them.

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