The Kochi Metro Phase-2 project from Palarivattom to Infopark is progressing at a steady pace. With 307 piles installed, the focus has now shifted to superstructure components. A dedicated casting yard in Kalamassery is producing girders and pier caps at a large scale, aiming to speed up the metro’s construction timeline.
Introduction:
The construction work for Kochi Metro Phase-2, covering the stretch from Palarivattom to Infopark, is advancing swiftly. So far, 307 piles have been successfully installed, laying the foundation for the elevated viaduct and stations.
A major development is the operation of a large casting yard spread over 8.85 hectares in Kalamassery, where the construction of superstructural components such as pier caps and girders is currently in full swing. Notably, unlike Phase-1, where components were built on-site, Phase-2 employs pre-casting methods—a strategy aimed at reducing construction time and improving quality.
Currently, four pier caps and four U-girders have been cast, marking an important milestone. The casting yard is divided into two key operational categories-
U-Girder Construction Zone:
- Features four 100-ton gantry cranes
- Focuses on rapid U-girder production
Multi-Component Construction Zone:
- Produces Eye girders, pier caps, parapets, T-girders, and El-girders
- Equipped with six gantry cranes:
- Two cranes of 60 tons
- One of 100 tons
- One of 120 tons
- Plus smaller 10-ton cranes for additional flexibility
Supporting facilities include a quality testing lab, a concrete batching lab, and an onsite concrete waste recycling plant—highlighting the project’s commitment to sustainability and environmental safety.
The total pre-cast requirements for this phase are ambitious:
Viaduct construction:
- 500 U-girders
- 580 Eye girders
- 354 Pier caps
Metro station construction:
- 100 U-girders
- 120 Pier arms
- 400 T-girders
- 200 El-girders
Conclusion:
With large-scale pre-casting and modern equipment at its core, Kochi Metro Phase-2 is setting new benchmarks in urban transit construction. The systematic approach at Kalamassery casting yard not only ensures speed and precision but also signals a leap toward environmentally conscious infrastructure development in Kerala.
Source: Kochi Metro | Images Credit: Kochi Metro
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