The proposed Kakkanad extension of the Kochi Metro has encountered significant challenges due to the need for redevelopment of key diversion roads, raising concerns among residents and stakeholders. The Public Works Department (PWD)
and the district administration are being urged to take immediate action to widen the heavily congested bell mouths at Vennala High School Junction, which experiences severe traffic snarls on all three connecting roads. Despite Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) citing a lack of funds as the reason for delaying the redevelopment of alternative roads necessary for diverting vehicles, there is a strong demand for these roads to be fully upgraded before barricades are erected for the metro viaduct construction. The urgency of this demand has increased following KMRL’s recent announcement that all heavy goods carriers, and potentially other vehicles, will be diverted through these alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion on Civil Line Road.
Metro officials have also highlighted the critical need to remove encroachments from the Kochi Corporation-owned Puthiya Road and the PWD-owned Vennala High School Road-Palachuvadu-Kakkanad stretch, which run parallel to Civil Line Road. A similar anti-encroachment initiative is required to clear bottlenecks on Chakkaraparambu Road and other byroads extending eastward from the Edappally-Vyttila NH bypass. During a review meeting, representatives from various agencies, elected officials, and members of NGOs and residents’ associations collectively called for government funds to widen key junctions such as Vennala HS Junction, Palachuvadu Junction, and Alinchuvadu Junction. They also emphasized the importance of repairing potholes on Puthiya Road and other alternative routes using metro project funds.
The Kochi Corporation’s master plan highlights the necessity of widening Puthiya Road and Vennala High School Road to 15 metres, taking into account the increasing number of IT professionals and other commuters using these routes to access Infopark, which has led to significant traffic hold-ups. Meanwhile, KMRL officials are hopeful that the Kochi Corporation will secure the necessary government funds to widen these critical corridors, ensuring smoother traffic flow and facilitating the timely completion of the metro extension project. The successful resolution of these infrastructure issues is essential for the progress of the Kochi Metro’s Kakkanad extension, which aims to enhance connectivity and support the region’s economic growth.“We have relocated seven of the 22 electric and telecom posts on these roads that hampered free movement of vehicles. The rest will be relocated shortly. As assured by the District Collector, the Revenue department must mark the boundary of the two roads, so that encroachments can be identified and removed. KMRL would help redevelop the two roads and also others that run parallel to Civil Line Road if the government, Kochi Corporation, and the PWD played their part. This is also the ideal time for the State government to reconsider the long-overdue four-lane Chakkaraparambu-Vennala-Seaport Airport Road,” they said.
