The Kerala government has sanctioned ₹6.18 crore from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) to redevelop the long-pending HMT Junction in Kalamassery, a key transportation hub on the Kochi metropolitan corridor. This financial approval comes after the state accepted the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the concerned agencies, signalling a major step forward for the project that has been awaited by residents and commuters for over a decade.
Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, while addressing the media in Kochi, emphasised that the project will substantially ease the chronic traffic congestion that plagues HMT Junction, especially during peak hours. The intersection, which connects major arterial roads leading to key industrial and residential zones, has long been criticised for bottlenecks that slow travel and increase commute times. With the sanctioned funds, authorities plan to begin the structural redesign and expansion work soon, with procedural clearances expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
Alongside the HMT Junction redevelopment, the minister also announced a separate ₹2.7 crore allocation for the establishment of an autism support centre at Kuttikattukara in the Eloor municipality. This centre is set to provide specialised education, counselling, and modern training facilities aimed at enhancing the development and talents of children with autism spectrum disorders.
In another related update, Rajeeve highlighted that the off-campus centre of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode, located near the Cusat metro station, is nearing completion and is expected to soon roll out new academic programmes once operational, adding to the educational infrastructure of the region.
The redevelopment of HMT Junction is expected to not only improve vehicular movement but also support the broader connectivity goals of the Kochi metro region, complementing ongoing infrastructure projects aimed at modernising transport and public services across the district.
