KITCO blueprint more suited to decongest Vyttila Junction

The Public Works Department along with the Kerala Road Fund Board will undertake the work on the project

KOCHI: The Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad(KSSP) has become the latest to join the chorus for a proper design for the proposed flyover at Vyttila Jn even as the work on the project which will decongest the junction, one of the  busiest in the state, is scheduled to get under way on November 25. The Public Works Department (PWD) along with the Kerala Road Fund Board will undertake the work on the project.

According to the parishad, the proposed flyover will not suffice to end the traffic chaos at Vyttila. “We are neither against the flyover nor want it to be put off. Nonetheless, we want the authorities to come up with a proper design which will ease the traffic congestion at Vyttila where roads from all the four directions intersect,” said G Gopinathan, development affairs convener, KSSP.

Gopinathan along with the other stakeholders has decided to approach the High Court with the plea to build the flyover on the basis of the design prepared by  KITCO.
“The proposed flyover may smoothen traffic along the NH like the Palarivattom flyover which is also unidirectional,” he said.According to the KITCO’s concept note,  “At present, the traffic at the junction is regulated by an automatic traffic signal system which results in long queues and ensuing hold-ups. Two major roads - Thammanam-Pulleppady and Kaniyampuzha Rd - also meet very close to the main junction, which makes it more crowded,”

KITCO has mooted the construction of a 300 m six-lane flyover at the junction towards Alappuzha,  extending the existing railway overbridge and underpass as an alternate solution.
“The existing ROB near the Gold Souk  mall should be extended by about 150 m. A four-lane underpass should also be built. A new flyover may be constructed at the junction. The traffic from Tripunithura should be diverted through the underpass. The traffic from SA Road should be diverted, by a free left turn to the underpass of the extended ROB, where the traffic from the Thammanam side can also join. The proposal provides for  smooth movement of vehicular traffic. The proposal is also comparatively cost-effective and does not require major land acquisition,” accordin to the report.

M S Mohanan, environmental affairs convener, said if  the flyover being built at Vyttila is indeed unidirectional, the signal system for Ernakulam -Tripunithura route will have to  continue. It means the traffic snarl-ups will continue in their present form,” he said.Already, the KSSP had urged the authorities concerned to think about a practical and comprehensive solution which will streamline the traffic at Vyttila Jn.

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