Seaport-Airport second phase: Toshiba Jn to be developed

Kochi: Toshiba Junction, a congested bottleneck at the start of the second phase of Seaport-Airport Road, will be developed as a seamless transit point, with authorities mooting a flyover or a traffic roundabout.The same is expected to facilitate hundreds of commuters proceeding to Kakkanad and Infopark, and those travelling to Kalamassery medical college area as well. "For years, the area acted as a bottleneck where Seaport-Airport Road (first phase) ends abruptly and merges with the local feeder traffic. The current redevelopment plan of the junction aims to transform this into a seamless transit point with the second phase section, that starts from HMT Road and ends at Nedumbassery," said a senior official of Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK). RBDCK, which is the project implementation agency for the second phase, has entrusted NATPAC (National Transportation Planning and Research Centre) to conduct a traffic study for the junction development. "A letter was submitted to govt, seeking the required funds for the study. There are proposals for constructing a flyover, underpass or a traffic roundabout. NATPAC will decide on the suitable measure and design as per their study findings," the official added. Phase II to have proper lighting, service road: Meanwhile, learning from the shortcomings of the first phase, Phase II of Seaport-Airport Road is being designed as a smarter, safer corridor. While the first phase from Irumpanam to Kalamassery HMT junction faced intense public backlash over unlit stretches and a lack of pedestrian infrastructure, RBDCK is ensuring these mistakes are not repeated. "Additional funds have been earmarked for modern streetlights that will span the entire stretch. Service roads will be built at multiple stretches including those near residential zones to separate local traffic from high-speed transit. We'll also construct a protection cover for the BPCL pipeline running through the site," the official said. Seaport-Airport Road project, envisioned as a 25.7-km arterial link from Irumpanam to Cial, is being implemented in two phases. While 11.3-km southern stretch was successfully commissioned in 2003, the remaining 14.3-km northern segment became embroiled in administrative and legal hurdles. For 20 years, commuters and logistics providers have navigated congested city pockets, waiting for the ‘missing link' to be fixed. The breakthrough in land acquisition came through persistent negotiations by state govt with central agencies. The construction currently focuses on a 2.7km stretch through HMT land, designed at a width of 45m. The main hurdle was acquiring the HMT and NAD land. Following a Supreme Court directive, govt allocated Rs 37.90 crore to secure 1.4015 hectares of HMT property in Thrikkakara North Village. Similarly, negotiations with the Union ministry of defence cleared the path through Naval Armament Depot (NAD) land. The state disbursed Rs 23.11 crore for this, alongside an additional Rs 8.16 crore for widening NADA Thurappu Road and nearly Rs 1 crore for a mandatory perimeter wall to ensure security. With RBDCK reissuing the tender notifications and govt granting an administrative sanction of Rs 17.31 crore for HMT-NAD section, the construction is now in high gear.