The 13.4 km (8.3 mi) section of the line from Aluva to Palarivattom consisting 11 stations was opened to passengers on 17 June 2017 by Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India.

[14] The first phase spanning 28.125 km (17.476 mi) from Aluva to Thrippunithura with 25 stations was completed in March 2024 at an estimated cost of ₹51.81 billion (US$600 million).

[18] The system is also involved in sustainable initiatives with the introduction of non-motorized transport corridors in the city, installation of solar panels for power and vertical garden on every sixth metro pillar.

[23][24] The cabinet meeting held on 21 July 1999, of the then Left Democratic Front (Kerala) government, assigned Rail India Technological and Economic Services (RITES) for the feasibility study for a metro rapid transport system in Kochi.

[25] The techno-economic feasibility study for a Metro Rapid Transit System in Kochi was completed in 1999, which was begun in the same year, by Rail India Technological and Economic Services (RITES).

[41] The Director Board of Kochi Metro Rail Limited entrusted MD, KMRL to find alternate funding options for the project as advised by DEA (Department of Economic Affairs).

Some government ministers and IAS officials alleged that Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) norms do not allow awarding of a contract to an agency which did the consultancy for a project.

[59] Kadakampally Surendran who is the current Minister for Devaswom, Tourism and Co-Operation declared that the inauguration of Kochi Metro Train service is expected to occur on 30 May 2017[60] On 21 February 2014, the Kerala High Court expressed its displeasure over the failure of the Kochi Corporation to finalise the final alignment of the proposed rail over bridge (ROB) at Pachalam submitted by the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation.

The Bench observed that the civic body had "not moved an inch", after the discussion on the alignment submitted by the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation in 2011.

[73] The original plan was to acquire about 31.9217 hectares of land in Ernakulam, Elamkulam, Poonithura, Thrikkakara North, Edappally South and Aluva West.

[94][95][96] Larsen and Toubro (L&T) was awarded the contract to construct the viaduct and 6 stations on the Kalamassery-Stadium stretch[97] in April 2013 at an estimated cost of ₹4 billion (US$46 million).

[98] Cherian Varkey Constructions-RDS(CVCC-RDS JV) were awarded the work for the demolition of the existing ROB and rebuilding of the north over bridge into a 4 lane road with metro viaducts.

[100] The first test run of the Kochi metro was conducted on 27 February 2016 on a 1 km (0.62 mi) section between Muttom Yard depot and Kalamassery at speeds of up to 10 km/h (6.2 mph).

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Union Urban Development Secretary and KMRL chairman Sudhir Krishna announced that the 2 km (1.2 mi) extension would cost an additional ₹3.23 billion (US$37 million).

[109] The 11.2 km (7.0 mi) extension will link Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad,[110] and the estimated cost at the time of proposal was ₹2,024 crore (US$230 million).

[121] KMRL plans to operate light trams on the 6.2 km MG Road-Menaka-Park Avenue Road-Jos Junction-Thevara loop line corridor.

[134] The Metro authority said that Canara Bank has taken this project as a special case with their request of interest reduction and provided relaxations on their conditions.

[135] In November 2016, the AFD agreed to provide a loan of EUR 175 million to the KMRL for the 11.2 km (7.0 mi) extension of the metro from JLN Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad.

Although the AFD typically issues 20-year loans for urban infrastructure projects, it agreed to offer KMRL a longer tenure of 25 years at an interest rate of 1.35%.

EUR 22 million will be utilized to carry out works related to non-motorised transportation at 20 stations, pedestrianization of MG Road, and junction development at Aluva, Edappally and Vyttila.

The kettuvalam or houseboat, for example, widely used in the backwaters of the state, is the theme of one of the stations, bearing descriptions of how it is made with a model exhibited alongside.

With re-tendering process on, the proposed integration of coaches with tracks, third traction (sourcing power from the third rail) and signal systems can be done only by 2015-end or early 2016.

"[163] The DMRC held a pre-bid meeting in New Delhi on 2 April 2014 to allow interested firms to seek clarifications regarding technical specifications for the contract for the coaches.

[170] In a CBTC system, the importance of signals is limited as "beacons" located along the corridor relay the precise position of trains to the operation control centre (OCC) at Muttom.

[172] In January 2015, Alstom won the contract for manufacturing, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the 750 V third-rail traction electrification and auxiliary substations (ASS) and associated SCADA systems.

The contract is based on the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, under which Hero will invest the entire ₹27 crore (US$3.1 million) to install the panels and operate the solar power station for a period of 25 years.

[176] KMRL assigned Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) to conduct a feasibility study on incorporating parking spaces on the metro rail corridor.

The information on scheduled stops, routes and fares have been converted into the universally accepted General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) and has been allowed to developers, entrepreneurs, data analysts to download from the KMRL website.

[189][190][191] A boat service from Vyttila to Kakkanad, operated by the Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) was launched on 19 November 2013.

[196] In early 2014, E. Sreedharan criticised Kochi Metro Railway Limited (KMRL) for its involvement in the re-tender for the procurement of coaches for the project, saying that this would result in a delay of six or seven months.