The ambitious 6-km port connectivity national highway corridor project (NH 966-B) in Kochi has encountered a setback as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Cochin Port Authority (CPA) find themselves at odds over the alignment of the corridor.
The proposed four-lane corridor, designed to link the Aroor-Edappally bypass with Willingdon Island, was scheduled to commence from Nettoor, featuring a trumpet flyover, and terminate at Willingdon Island, providing a detour around the congested Kundannur Junction and the problematic 2-km-long Kundannur bridge. The bridge, maintained by the PWD-NH wing, currently faces issues such as potholes and undulations.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) granted approval for the corridor’s alignment in November 2023, with the issuance of the 3(A) notification for land acquisition planned for December. However, this process faced a delay as the CPA expressed reluctance to accept the proposed alignment, citing concerns about its passage through land earmarked for a hospitality project along the backwaters. According to NHAI’s original plan, the acquisition of land for the 45-metre-wide highway was anticipated to conclude by January-end, primarily affecting around 75 houses and other structures. Subsequent steps involved tendering in March for the highway corridor, aiming for its completion and opening to traffic by September 2025. The project’s adherence to this timeline now appears uncertain due to the misalignment dispute with the CPA. CPA officials highlighted their cooperation in providing land parallel to existing roads and bridges to facilitate the construction of the crucial 45-metre-wide NH corridor. This development is vital for enhancing connectivity to the port, especially with the projected increase in container cargo, including traffic from the Vizhinjam Port. The CPA is revising its land-use plan, and discussions with NHAI officials are expected to address concerns about the feasibility of the chosen alignment. As stakeholders navigate through this impasse, the fate of Kochi’s port connectivity NH corridor remains uncertain, raising questions about the timely realisation of this critical infrastructure project.