KOCHI: The actual reason which led to the deferment of the launch of preparatory work of Vyttila flyover to December 11 from the originally scheduled November 25 remains shrouded in mystery, with the authorities failing to shed light on it either. Despite the deafening silence from the powers be, the various stakeholders of the city’s development have come up with questions in this regard.
D Dhanuraj, Centre for Public Policy Research(CPPR) chairman, sought to know what is preventing the government or the implementing agencies from releasing the plan for the Vyttila flyover into the public domain.
“I had been part of several Vyttila flyover project presentations since the mobility hub project in 2011. Many of the meetings including those chaired by the Chief Minister added to the confusion about the plan and structure which should come up at Vyttila.
“Many national and international consulting companies had drawn up plans along with state-run agencies,” he said.
According to Dhanuraj , he was surprised when the government announced the work on the flyover will commence on November 25. “Why are they not releasing it in the public domain? Why are they keeping it classified ? It will not cost us more than what we bear with these days. It is a concern expressed by many. It could also kill the city in the absence of meticulous planning,” he said.
However, he made it known he wasn’t anti-development since the flyover is meant to decongest the busy junction. “I believe the junction could be far better if the traffic island and police watch tower there are done away with,” he said.
Fallout of traffic diversion
The major road which will see traffic congestion on an unprecedented scale once the Vyttila flyover construction begins is the Seaport-Airport Road. As such the road is chock-a-block with traffic especially near the Collectorate signal, where the vehicles coming from Vazhakkala side take a U-turn. Once the traffic is diverted through the Seaport-Airport Road from Kalamassery, the number of vehicles through the Seaport-Airport Road will rise exponentially . This will create traffic congestion at the Collectorate signal, Irumpanam, and the narrow Tripunithura-Petta Road.