Ernakulam North–South Link May Revive with KSRTC Terminal

05 Sep 2025 CW Team

After nearly a decade of inaction, the long-pending proposal to connect Ernakulam Junction (South Station) directly with Ernakulam Town (North Station) via a 2-kilometre road may finally gain traction. The Kerala state government’s allocation for a new KSRTC terminal at Karikkamuri has reignited interest in the vital link project, which would eliminate the need for vehicles to detour around the city.

Kochi Mayor Adv Anil Kumar confirmed that the Kochi Corporation had previously prepared a draft alignment plan, and a significant portion of the required land—aside from private plots—is already held by KSRTC and Indian Railways, with the remaining being government-owned.

“The project is feasible and can be revived in the near future,” said the mayor. “The Chief Secretary had earlier promised to initiate talks with the Railways, and with the new terminal coming up, the momentum may return.”

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), which is developing the Karikkamuri terminal near the South Station, stands to benefit directly. A 10-metre-wide road stretch owned by KSRTC near Vivekananda Road has already been offered to support the road alignment.

“This connection would ease entry and exit for buses to the upcoming terminal,” said a senior KSRTC official, emphasising the organisation’s readiness to cooperate.

Currently, a road linking the KSRTC depot to the South Station exists, and the Railways had earlier granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for development activities on the remaining portion, including the stretch behind Ambedkar Stadium.

With renewed infrastructure investments and land availability, stakeholders believe that the project has real potential for revival, offering seamless intermodal connectivity within the heart of Kochi.

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