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The city road project, proposed by the Public Works Department (PWD), has been shelved owing to the ongoing Metro Rail work in Kochi. The project, mooted in 2006, received the state government nod only in 2009. Though the Kerala Road Fund Board was appointed to execute the project, it did not materialise because of several factors, mainly the Metro Rail work.

“Initially, the land acquisition for the development of the roads in the city had been a major hurdle. We estimated at least `1,000 crore for the project. The high-level committee which met to discuss the project told us to prepare a more cost-effective venture. However, by then, the Kochi Metro Rail project received the green signal and we decided to shelve the project till the Metro Rail is launched,” top officials said.

According to officials, the Board decided to put the project on hold as the face of the city would change drastically when the Metro Rail project is completed.

“The Metro Rail will become the major mode of transport. The existing roads which we considered important as part of the project will probably lose its prominence. Hence, we thought it was wise to wait for the completion of the Metro project and conduct another Comprehensive Transportation and Traffic study. The 16 roads selected under the project include Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road, Sahodaran Ayyappan Road and extension up to Model Road, Goshree North-end - Pachalam - ROB - Pottakuzhi Mamangalam - NH 47, Padma Intersection - Pullepady Road - Kathrikadavu Road, Thammanam - NH Bypass, Banerjee Road - North Overbridge - NH 47 up to Edappally, Bund Road from Chilavannoor to NH Bypass (Chambakkara) on the east up to MG Road through ROB at Atlantis on the west, Vyttila-Tripunithura Road up to SN junction. The Mathai Manjooran Road from Marine Drive (High Court junction) to Goshree - Pachalam - Mamangalam Road, Subhash Chandra Bose Road (road from Karshaka Road to Ponnurunni), extension of Kaloor Kadavanthra Road up to Bund Road (KP Vallon Road) in the south and up to Punnakkal junction in the North, Stadium Link Road up to Old NH, MG Road from Madhava Pharmacy to Thevara, widening of Edakochi Road from Thoppumpady Bridge up to Perumpadappu junction, Pandarachira (Edakochi Bund) Road linking Edakochi Road to Beach Road (up to Fort Kochi - Chellanam Road), Fort Kochi - Chellanam Road up to Pandarachira Road, Salim Rajan Road and Kumaranasan Road from Kaloor-Kadavanthara Road to Karshaka Link Road are the roads that were selected.

Source-On Request