Seaport–Airport Road: Kalamassery’s Bypass to Kakkanad and the Airport

Key facts

The Seaport–Airport Road is planned as a road of about 25–30 km connecting Cochin port with Cochin International Airport via Kalamassery and Kakkanad.
Its first phase, from the Irumpanam/Karingachira side to HMT in Kalamassery, was completed in 2003.
A 2.7 km missing link between HMT Junction and the Naval Armament Depot (NAD) area was tendered in early 2026 for about ₹17.22 crore, with a 12-month completion target.
The Kerala government paid ₹37.90 crore for HMT land and ₹23.11 crore for NAD land for the second phase.
Until the HMT–NAD link and second phase open, airport traffic from Kalamassery uses NH 544.

Kalamassery metro station above NH 544. Photo: Gnoeee / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What the road is

The idea is simple: a four-lane road that lets cargo and travellers move between Kochi’s seaport and the airport at Nedumbassery without crawling through Edappally and Aluva on NH 544. Along the way it serves industrial areas — Wikipedia names HMT, FACT and Kochi Refineries among the units it was meant to help — and the civil station and IT parks at Kakkanad. Sources give its planned length variously as about 25.7 km (Irumpanam to Nedumbassery) and about 30 km (port to airport).

One small claim to fame: Wikipedia notes that the road was surfaced with natural-rubber-modified bitumen, a nod to Kerala’s rubber economy and intended to make the surface last longer under heavy trucks. For residents, though, the road matters for something more ordinary — it is the quickest road link from Kalamassery’s HMT side to the jobs, offices and colleges around Kakkanad and Thrikkakara. See the Thrikkakara guide.

A short history

When	What happened
2003	Phase I, about 11–13 km from the Irumpanam/Karingachira side to HMT, Kalamassery, completed
2003 onwards	The HMT–NAD stretch stalls over acquiring land from HMT and the defence-owned Naval Armament Depot
2021	A 1.9 km section in HMT Colony, Kalamassery, completed after land acquisition
Mid-2020s	HMT land handed to RBDCK after payment following Supreme Court directions; ₹37.90 crore paid for HMT land and ₹23.11 crore for NAD land
Early 2026	2.7 km HMT–NAD link tendered (about ₹17.22 crore), with a 12-month target pointing to early 2027

Engineering is not trivial: reports say the NAD end needs sand piles because of very soft soil, with embankments of 4.5–7.5 metres. Treat any completion date with caution and check the latest news.

The route as it is today

From HMT Junction in Kalamassery the road heads south-east towards Kakkanad, passing the Thrikkakara side and the Kakkanad Collectorate area before continuing to Irumpanam near Thrippunithura. For Kalamassery residents it is the main road route to Infopark and Kakkanad; read working at Infopark, living in Kalamassery and Kakkanad or Kalamassery?.

As part of Kochi Metro’s second phase, KMRL has been widening the stretch between the Kakkanad Collectorate junction and the Infopark Expressway entrance, so expect construction work and diversions on that side.

Traffic: when to use it

It is usually the better choice than NH 544 for Kakkanad and Infopark, especially by two-wheeler.
Office hours bring heavy traffic near Kakkanad; leave early or late.
Heavy vehicles use the road for industrial traffic, so ride carefully, especially in rain.
Until the HMT–NAD link opens, it does not take you to the airport — use NH 544 for that. See Cochin airport to Kalamassery.

Seaport–Airport Road or NH 544?

Going to	Usual road from Kalamassery	Note
Kakkanad, Collectorate, Infopark	Seaport–Airport Road	Avoids Edappally; busy at office hours
Thrippunithura, Irumpanam side	Seaport–Airport Road	Follows the completed Phase I
Edappally, Lulu Mall, city centre	NH 544 (or the metro)	See the NH 544 guide
Aluva, airport	NH 544	Until the HMT–NAD link and Phase II open

For cyclists and pedestrians, the road is built for speed and heavy vehicles. Walk on it only where there is a proper footpath, and take extra care at junctions after dark.

Why the missing link matters locally

Once the HMT–NAD stretch and the second phase are finished, people in the HMT, Medical College and NAD Road areas should have a direct road towards the airport, avoiding Aluva. It may also change traffic patterns on smaller local roads, so the quiet lanes of today may not stay quiet. See the NAD history page for why defence land made this so slow, and the HMT Junction guide for what is at the Kalamassery end.

Living near the road: Ashraf Gents Hostel

Ashraf Gents Hostel’s public profile lists the Seaport–Airport Road as within about 3 km of the hostel at the NAD Road signal, Kalamassery — useful for men working towards Kakkanad, Infopark or the industrial areas along it. Check your own route and travel time at your shift hours when you enquire.

The hostel is for male students, staff and working men only. Photos in the gallery show twin-sharing rooms with cots and mattresses, a balcony and a kitchen. The indicative rate is about ₹2,000–3,000 per head per month, negotiable, with one month’s advance, confirmed on +91 90746 23855.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Seaport–Airport Road reach the airport yet?

Not as a continuous road. The HMT–NAD link was tendered in early 2026 and the rest of the second phase towards Nedumbassery is still to be completed.

Where does the Seaport–Airport Road start in Kalamassery?

The completed section begins at HMT, Kalamassery, and runs south-east towards Kakkanad and Irumpanam.

Why was the HMT–NAD stretch delayed so long?

Mainly because land had to be acquired from HMT and the defence-owned Naval Armament Depot, which took about two decades.

Is it the best route from Kalamassery to Infopark?

For most people travelling by road, yes, though traffic near Kakkanad at office hours can be heavy.

Sources

Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed 7 October 2026. How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.