Phase 2 of the project is planned as a solution to the airport connectivity dilemma, bypassing the congested NH 544 corridor.

The latest figures show that Kochi airport records an annual footfall of 1.12 crore.

Despite several interventions, a rapid surge in vehicle numbers has left the Edappally-Aluva-Athani section on NH 544—the primary gateway to Kochi airport located 28 km north of the city—heavily congested, affecting hundreds of travellers.

The traffic gridlock, especially at key choke points like the Marthanda Varma bridge in Aluva, is worsening by the day, even as calls grow louder for the implementation of the second phase of the Seaport-Airport Road on a war footing.

D Dhanuraj, Chairman of Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), gave his insights to The New Indian Express (TNIE) on the issue.

“Connectivity to the airport is vital for the growth of any city,”

he said, while also pointing out that the latest figures show that Kochi airport records an annual footfall of 1.12 crore.

“With NH 544 getting severely congested, it’s high time we developed another alternative. The state government must treat the completion of the Seaport-Airport Road Phase II as a flagship project with a time-bound implementation schedule, instead of announcing several projects simultaneously.

The project, which has already faced a delay of over two decades, can’t be delayed any further. Its realisation will help a major chunk of airport commuters from central Kerala travel without touching NH 544,”

Dhanuraj is quoted as saying.

Read the full article by The New Indian Express here.

Views expressed by the author are personal and need not reflect or represent the views of the Centre for Public Policy Research.