KOCHI: A major complaint raised by Infopark techies is inadequate public transportation facilities, which in turn, leads to issues like insufficient parking space at the IT park. However, things appear brighter for the IT park as a host of infrastructure projects, including the Kochi Metro and phase-2 of the Seaport-Airport Road, are set to become a reality in the near future.
Kochi Metro has speeded up construction of its phase 2 extension, the 11.2-km-long Pink Line from its Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium station to Infopark, and promises to meet the August 2026 deadline. It has already started the process to further extend metro connectivity to Infopark phase 2.
“We’re preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the extension to phase-2 campus. The draft has been finalised,” a senior Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) official said.
The Pink Line, having 11 stations, is expected to be the most financially viable section for the KMRL as per the DPR. The highest number of commuters are expected to travel in the section when it gets operational.
“The construction works are progressing from both ends. Even in the Vazhakkala stretch, the widening activities are nearing completion. We’ll erect the barricades once the same is over, and start metro construction works, which will be in full swing in a couple of weeks,” the official said.
Meanwhile, techies will get a major relief from congested roads and traffic blocks when KMRL introduces the e-feeder service, connecting the Kakkanad Water Metro terminal with Infopark in a week.
“Currently, registration and testing of 15 new e-feeder buses are progressing and the services will be launched soon. The feeder buses will connect the airport (Aluva-Kochi airport), Medical College (Kalamassery-Medical College, Infopark-Kakkanad water metro terminal and other destinations that lack transportation,” a KMRL spokesperson said.
The same will let techies take the water metro from Vyttila hub and reach Infopark in 40 minutes – the time includes the 20-25 minute boat travel – allowing them to avoid the congested roads and reach the destination in half the time taken otherwise. “We’ll increase the frequency to 20 minutes in the Vyttila-Kakkanad section soon when the second pontoon at Vyttila terminal is built,” said another official in charge of the water metro, adding that efforts are also on to connect Infopark phase-2 in the near future.
The techies, meanwhile, are looking forward to the e-feeder services. “The feeder buses have been our long-pending demand, and once the buses are deployed, a large number of employees will shift to water transport. Currently, last mile connectivity is the main issue,” said Anish Pandalani, the state president of Progressive Techies, a socio-cultural and welfare organisation of IT employees.
However, he rued that bus connectivity is inadequate, and batted for more KSRTC services. “Currently, except for one or two buses, the KSRTC is operating long-haul services only on Fridays. There is virtually no bus connectivity after 7pm. This despite shifts at many IT companies ending at 8pm, 8.30pm and 10pm,” he said.
The Infopark campus alone employs nearly 75,000 staff. The figure crosses over one lakh when employees at Smart City and Kinfra Park are taken into account.
Seaport-Airport Rd phase-2: L18.7 crore allocated
The state government on Monday allocated Rs 18.77 crore needed as part of acquiring 1.6352 hectare land belonging to the HMT.
The Supreme Court had earlier asked the government to remit the cost of the land to be acquired from HMT for the development of the Seaport-Airport Road in a nationalised bank, so as to get the land available for the project.
Industries Minister P Rajeeve said the government would allocate another Rs 23 crore soon to acquire the land of National Armament Depot (NAD).
The Seaport-Airport Road project covers a total of 25.7km from Irumpanam to Kochi airport and has been divided into two phases.
The implementing agency, Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala Ltd (RBDCK), completed the first phase from Irumpanam to Kalamassery covering 11.3 km in 2003, and handed it over to the public works department in 2020.
However, the second phase – 14.4 km from HMT Kalamassery to the airport – has been put on the backburner, with land acquisition moving at a snail’s pace due to fund crunch.
Allocation of funds would speed up the project, the realisation of which would benefit the Infopark employees travelling to northern parts.
