Kochi : The state govt has assured measures to widen the Kakkanad-Infopark road stretch following the recent death of an IT employee in a mishap at Kuzhikattumoola.
As the beating heart of Kerala’s IT sector, Kakkanad houses major hubs like Infopark and SmartCity Kochi, employing over 100,000 tech professionals daily. Instead, techies are advocating construction of a new 4-to-6-lane greenfield corridor through the open terrain directly north of the existing route. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news.
“The CM has assured that necessary steps will be taken to implement the project,” she said. “Severe bottleneck, aggressive private bus driving, and dangerous 90-degree curves have made daily commutes hazardous,” Thomas said. “The alternative route will bypass the sharp curves entirely and require land acquisition across just a 200m stretch near IMG Junction, drastically cutting demolition costs and disruption,” Arjun pointed out.
Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas submitted a memorandum to CM V D Satheesan, demanding a comprehensive project to widen the existing IMG Junction-Infopark stretch. Emphasising that temporary fixes will no longer suffice, Thomas called for immediate funds for land acquisition and road expansion to ensure commuter safety. The commuting nightmare between Kakkanad IMG Junction and Infopark Carnival Junction has reached a tipping point, sparking a fierce debate over how to solve the traffic crisis. However, the primary access route is a narrow, two-lane strip less than 10m wide in several stretches. However, IT employees and urban transport advocates argue that expanding the existing alignment is a short-sighted fix. Arjun P Bhaskar, an Infopark employee and administrator of the social media collective Kochi First, points out that widening the current road to a modest 15m will fail to meet future traffic demands. Furthermore, it requires heavy land acquisition along the two-km stretch without fixing the hazardous bends. With Kochi’s IT footprint continuing to expand rapidly, stakeholders are calling on state authorities to carefully weigh both proposals. Download the TOI App.