Kerala Revised Budget: Kozhikode Light Metro project gets new impetus

A view of the modified Panniyankara railway bridge in Kozhikode. The structure was built a decade ago for the city’s proposed light rail project. | Photo credit: K. Ragesh

The much-pending Kozhikode Light Metro project has received a fresh impetus in the Kerala government’s revised budget for 2026-27 with funds earmarked for activities related to the project and proposed steps to expedite its feasibility study.

The project is among a slew of initiatives announced in the budget presented by Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Friday (June 19, 2026), which includes several development proposals for Kozhikode.

Announcing that the Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Light Metro projects would be implemented, the Chief Minister said that the detailed project report (DPR) for the Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro project is currently being prepared while steps are being accelerated for the feasibility study of the Kozhikode Light Metro project. “An amount of ₹20 crore is earmarked for the project activities,” he said.

The budget announced a “comprehensive and sustainable” package for the reconstruction of Vilangad village in the district, which was destroyed by a landslide in 2024. The “Vilangad package” aims to restore infrastructure, rehabilitate affected families, revive agriculture and increase disaster resilience. An allocation of ₹ 5 crore is earmarked for the project.

To preserve and promote Kerala’s unique art and cultural heritage, the Budget proposes to establish a cultural park in Kozhikode in memory of writer and Jnanpith laureate MT Vasudevan Nair. An amount of ₹50 crore has been earmarked for this initiative.

Calicut International Airport has been included along with three other airports in the state in the proposed air logistics hub project for which ₹200 crore has been earmarked for preliminary works. An amount of ₹ 1 trillion has also been allocated to carry out a feasibility study for the construction of an elevated expressway from Kohinoor in Malappuram, on NH-66, to Calicut Airport.

The budget proposes to upgrade Cyberpark, Kozhikode to the level of Infopark, Kochi, and Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram. It also proposes to set up a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority in Kozhikode to overhaul the public transport system. The Beypore port is expected to be one of the key beneficiaries of the proposed Kerala Maritime Policy aimed at strengthening the state’s maritime sector.

The Calicut Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the budget provides a clear direction for future development and reflects a development-oriented vision. The inclusion of the Kozhikode Light Metro project and the proposed MT Vasudevan Nair Cultural Park in the budget was very encouraging. Equally significant, the chamber said in a statement, was the proposal to carry out a feasibility study for an elevated expressway to ease traffic congestion on the route to the Calicut airport.

MK Raghavan MP said that Kozhikode has received its commitment in the budget despite prevailing financial constraints of the state.

Published – 19 Jun 2026 23:20 IST