Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents' Association (Trura) demands extension of Seaport-Airport (SA) Road to Puthiyakavu due to undue delays in road projects choking development of Tripunithura and nearby regions.

SA Road currently terminates at Karingachira, causing acute traffic congestion at the junction during peak hours. Widening of Karingachira-Thiruvankulam stretch (part of NH 85) has received administrative sanction of approximately Rs 42 crore, but progress is stalled by litigation.

Proposed resolution: extending SA Road southward through vacant paddy fields to Puthiyakavu would allow the network to intersect with the proposed Karayamparambu-Nettoor NH bypass, stated Trura secretary V C Jayendran.

The second phase of the 25.7-km Seaport-Airport Road from Irumpanam to Nedumbassery has faced nearly two decades of delays. The first phase (11.3 km from Irumpanam to Kalamassery) was completed in 2003.

Key land acquisition resolved:

• HMT land (1.6352 hectares) handed over to Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK) on 21 October 2025
• NAD land (2.4967 hectares) acquired; state allocated ₹32.26 crore for acquisition
• ₹37.91 crore required for HMT land; state allocated ₹19.39 crore (₹18.75 crore already in account)

Second phase sections:

1. HMT to NAD: 2 km, 600 m long and 45 m wide road; revised estimate ₹22.4 crore (administrative sanction ₹17.31 crore); work to start within four weeks
2. NAD to Mahilalayam: 6.5 km; land acquisition ongoing for 244 of 529 possessions; construction planned December 2025; KIIFB allocated ₹569.34 crore
3. Mahilalayam to Turuth: work completed
4. Chowara to Airport: 4.15 km; awaiting government nod for land acquisition

Additional proposal: underpass at Toshiba Junction to replace flyover; site has five to six underground pipelines including Kochi-Coimbatore-Karur pipeline, CIAL Aviation fuel pipeline, and FACT Naphtha pipeline.

The second phase development of Seaport-Airport Road involves a 14.3km stretch from HMT Road in Kalamassery to Kochi airport in Nedumbassery. The project had stalled for over two decades due to land acquisition disputes.

The state government deployed a new model where it deposits the disputed land cost (Rs 37.90 crore) with the court to proceed with acquisition, pending final verdict. The Supreme Court accepted this approach.

The HMT land dispute: HMT was given free land at Kalamassery for industrial activities. When the state wanted it back for the road project, HMT demanded compensation. The government argued the land was given for a specific purpose and can be reclaimed if unused. Single bench ruled for HMT; division bench ruled for government. HMT appealed to Supreme Court, which stayed proceedings until the deposit arrangement was accepted.

Financing: State allocated Rs 19.39 crore with Rs 18.75 crore already in tahsildar account, totalling Rs 37.90 crore deposit needed.

Phase 2 sections: HMT Road-NAD Junction to Mahilalayam Junction; Mahilalayam Junction to Chowara; Chowara to Airport Road.

Progress: In 2.7km Kalamassery-NAD stretch, 1.5km constructed on available land; NAD land acquisition ready after Rs 23.06 crore deposit. NAD-Mahilalayam stretch (6.5km) with over 400 landowners expected to take six months; two Periyar bridges completed. Chowara-airport section (4.15km) awaits government acquisition nod.

Full project: 25.7km from Irumpanam near Tripunithura to Nedumbassery. Phase 1 (11.3km, Irumpanam-Kalamassery) completed 2003.

State government sanctioned Rs 18.77 crore for acquiring 1.6352 hectares of HMT's land to remove hurdles for Phase II construction of Seaport-Airport Road. Supreme Court had previously issued an order on the matter.