A view of the modified Panniyankara railway overbridge in Kozhikode. The structure was constructed a decade ago for the proposed Light Metro project in the city.
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The long-pending Kozhikode Light Metro project has received a fresh impetus in the Kerala government’s Revised Budget for 2026-27, with funds earmarked for the project-related activities and steps proposed to expedite its feasibility study.
The project figures among a slew of initiatives announced in the Budget presented by Chief Minister V.D. 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 the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro project was currently being prepared, while steps were being accelerated for the feasibility study of the Kozhikode Light Metro project. “An amount of ₹20 crore is allocated 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 devastated by a landslide in 2024. The ‘Vilangad Package’ aims to rebuild infrastructure, rehabilitate affected families, revive agriculture, and enhance disaster resilience. An allocation of ₹5 crore has been earmarked for the project.
To preserve and foster Kerala’s unique art and cultural heritage, the Budget proposes to establish a cultural park in Kozhikode in memory of writer and Jnanpith laureate M.T. Vasudevan Nair. An amount of ₹50 crore has been allocated for this initiative.
The Calicut International Airport has been included, along with three other airports in the State, in the proposed aviation-logistics hub project, for which ₹200 crore has been earmarked for preliminary works. An amount of ₹1 crore has also been allocated to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of an elevated highway from Kohinoor in Malappuram, on NH-66, to Calicut airport.
The Budget proposes upgrading Cyberpark, Kozhikode, to the level of Infopark, Kochi, and Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram. It also proposes the establishment of a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority in Kozhikode to overhaul the public transport system. Beypore port is expected to be among the key beneficiaries of the proposed Kerala Maritime Policy, aimed at boosting the State’s maritime sector.
The Calicut Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the Budget provided a clear direction for future development and reflected a development-oriented vision. The inclusion of the Kozhikode Light Metro project and the proposed M.T. Vasudevan Nair cultural park in the Budget was highly encouraging. Equally significant, the chamber said in a statement, was the proposal to conduct a feasibility study for an elevated highway to ease traffic congestion on the route to Calicut airport.
M.K. Raghavan, MP, said Kozhikode had received its due in the Budget despite the State’s prevailing financial constraints.
Published – June 19, 2026 11:20 pm IST
