Sun Apr 13 19:57:00 UTC 2025: ## Kochi’s Long-Delayed Road Widening Project Faces Further Delays

**KOCHI, April 14, 2025** – The long-awaited four-laning of the Thammanam-Pullepady Road, a project crucial to reviving Kochi’s MG Road commercial district, continues to face significant hurdles. Despite repeated government notifications and appeals from stakeholders, land acquisition remains incomplete, leaving the project’s future uncertain.

The latest notification, issued on April 11th, includes previously omitted plot survey numbers, necessitating a new Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study, public hearing, and further procedural delays. This adds to the decades-long saga, with many landowners and businesses expressing frustration.

Deepak Aswani, Past Chairman of FICCI and Chairman of the Kerala Chapter of Retailers Association of India, highlighted the irony of the delay, noting that land was donated over 30 years ago. He cited the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (KCCI) contribution of ₹1 crore fifteen years ago for a bridge construction, intended to alleviate congestion and accelerate the road widening. Despite further government funding, land acquisition remains stalled.

Landowners like Ramesh Mathew echo the frustration, emphasizing the prolonged wait since the early 1990s. He urged faster processing of notifications to commence the widening and extension works linking NH Bypass with MG Road. Rajesh Nair, convenor of the MG Road Merchants’ Association, stressed the worsening traffic and called for concerted action to avoid a Bengaluru-like traffic crisis.

While Mayor M. Anilkumar stated that land acquisition work will begin within three months, Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod attributed the delay primarily to a lack of government funds. The project’s continued stagnation raises serious concerns about Kochi’s infrastructure development and the economic impact on businesses along MG Road, many of which relocated or closed due to the Kochi metro construction.

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