People’s campaign to develop Chakkaraparambu-Infopark road gathers momentum

Demand for fast-tracking the widening and extension of Thammanam-Pullepady Road towards Infopark due to inadequate east-west connectivity in Kochi.

The inadequate number of east-west connectivity roads in Kochi and a host of incomplete projects like Thammanam-Pullepady Road, Chilavannur Bund Road, and Goshree-Mamangalam Road have given impetus to the demand to fast-track the widening and extension of the Thammanam-Pullepady Road further eastward from Chakkaraparambu on the Palarivattom-Vyttila bypass towards Infopark.

A host of organisations, including residents’ associations, have launched a campaign demanding the execution of the 4-km-long Chakkaraparambu-Infopark road whose work had been entrusted to the Kerala State Construction Corporation (KSCC). Poster campaigns have also been launched in this regard.

Inaugurating a campaign, Sebastian Paul, former MP, expressed dismay at the worsening congestion on the bottlenecked roads that take off from the NH bypass towards Kakkanad and Infopark since Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) did not develop alternative roads prior to erecting barricades on Civil Line Road for the metro’s Kakkanad extension. “The four-lane Chakkaraparambu-Infopark road ought to be readied on a war footing to provide proper connectivity from the city to the IT hub,” he said.

In March, Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, pointing to the worsening traffic gridlocks on the existing roads and demanding allocation of funds to realise the long-overdue eastward extension of M.G. Road-Pullepady-Thammanam-Chakkaraparambu road towards Infopark through Vennala, Palachuvadu, Kalachal, Thuthiyoor, and Seaport-Airport Road. “As per the detailed project report readied by KITCO, the road that was estimated to cost ₹413 crore [a decade ago] was to be developed at 30-metre width from Chakkaraparambu to Vennala, and subsequently at 45-metre width up to Infopark Junction. The road is yet to become a reality, although KSCC was told to do the requisite preparatory works and land acquisition,” she said in the memorandum.