Kochi is well connected to neighboring cities and states via several highways, serving as a node in the North-South Corridor of the National Highway system. However, the road infrastructure in Kochi struggles to meet the growing traffic demand, resulting in significant congestion.
The city is served by National Highway 66, National Highway 544, National Highway 966A, and National Highway 966B. Additionally, several state highways link Kochi to other parts of Kerala. SH 15 (Ettumanoor-Ernakulam Road) connects the city to Kottayam, Pala, Kumily, Changanacherry, and Pathanamthitta. SH 41 (Palarivattom-Thekkady Road) provides a corridor to the eastern parts of the district. SH 63 (Vypeen Pallipuram Road) and SH 66 (Alappuzha-Thoppumpady Road) are coastal roads serving the land between the backwaters and the sea.
The main arterial roads in Kochi include Mahatma Gandhi Road and Sahodaran Ayyappan Road in Ernakulam, constructed in 1925 and 1962 respectively, which run parallel and perpendicular to the coast and are set to have Metro Rail connectivity. The Seaport-Airport Road connects the Cochin Seaport to the Cochin International Airport, while the Infopark Expressway in Kakkanad extends to Infopark. Other major roads include Chittoor Road, Banerji Road, Shanmugham Road, Kochi Bypass, Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road, and Park Avenue. A new ring road is proposed for Kochi by the state government, with a project study currently underway by NATPAC.
Public transport in Kochi largely relies on privately owned bus networks, with state-run services also available through the Thirukochi service. Major bus terminals in the city include Ernakulam Town, Ernakulam Jetty, and the private bus terminal at Kaloor. The Mobility Hub at Vytilla, currently in its second phase of construction, serves as a hub for long-distance bus services and a converging point for buses, the metro, and ferries.
Kochi is one of the few cities granted new-generation air-conditioned low-floor and non-air-conditioned semi-low-floor buses under the JNNURM city transport development project. Both KURTC and private buses operate frequent schedules to neighboring areas such as Nedumbassery, Perumbavoor, Aluva, Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, Cherthala, and Poochakkal. Taxis and auto rickshaws (autos) are available throughout the day.
Despite these connections, the development of road infrastructure has not kept pace with the increase in traffic, posing a major challenge for Kochi, similar to many other parts of Kerala.
National Highway 66 (NH 66), previously known as NH-17 and part of NH-47, is a significant 1640 km (1020 miles) long highway running north-south along India's western coast, parallel to the Western Ghats. It connects Panvel, near Mumbai, to Kanyakumari, traversing Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
NH 85, also known as National Highway 85, is a significant highway in India that connects the city of Kochi in Kerala with Thondi in Tamil Nadu. The highway spans approximately 250 kilometers and traverses through the picturesque Western Ghats, providing vital connectivity between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It passes through several key towns, including Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, and Munnar in Kerala, as well as Bodinayakanur and Theni in Tamil Nadu. NH 85 is notable for its scenic routes through tea plantations, forests, and hill stations, making it a popular choice for both commercial transport and tourism. The highway is crucial for the movement of goods and people across these regions, facilitating economic and cultural exchanges between the two states.
In Karnataka, NH 66 is undergoing extensive upgrades. The state government has approved the NHAI's request to develop the highway to international standards, making it 60 meters wide with grade separators. The entire stretch from the Goa border (near Karwar) to the Kerala border (near Talapady) is being expanded to four lanes, with provisions for future expansion to six lanes. Despite protests from landowners for a narrower highway, the Karnataka government has proceeded with the plan.
In Kerala, the land acquisition and tendering process for a six-lane highway have been completed, and new bypass construction has begun. Due to the high population density and land value, the highway in Kerala will be 45 meters wide with six lanes. Goa will have a similar alignment. The Karnataka and Maharashtra sections will be 60 meters wide, with Maharashtra's section being converted to a flexible pavement (asphalt) four-lane road.
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