The Better Kochi Response Group (BKRG) has come up with a new design for the flyover at Vyttila. The design of the model has been forwarded to the PWD Minister’s office, PWD secretary, Kochi Metro Rail Limited office, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), KITCO and the Vyttila Mobility Hub officials.
According to architect S Gopakumar, president of BKRG, the design has taken into consideration the current bottlenecks existing in Vyttila.
“The flyover has been designed in such a way that there won’t be any difficulties in the underground movements of the vehicles once the bridge is constructed. The design also deals with safe pedestrian crossings, area beautification, car and scooter parking, taxi and autorickshaw stands, bus stands, market, food stalls and entry and exit problems at the hub”, Gopakumar said.
A meeting to discuss the new design with the various departments will be held at Ernakulam this week. BKRG has been currently entrusted with the job of coordinating various infrastructure works and giving advice and solutions to various stake holders connected with infrastructure.
It was based on this, that the group has made the new design. Gopakumar said that the flyovers proposed by the National Highway Authority of India and KITCO had many limitations and this is the reason why there is a huge delay in finalising the design of the proposed flyover.
“The NHAI design may be cost effective. However, it has not bothered to address the underground traffic bottleneck which may rise once the flyover becomes a reality. Their flyover will be beneficial for the public who use the NH 47. But there will be huge congestion in the small round-about underneath the bridge,” he added.
While the KITCO flyover may require less land acquisition, the vehicles which use the flyover will have to cover more than one kilometer to take a turn. “Bus operators have already raised objections in this regard. Also, the KITCO design has also mentioned the construction of two extra bridges if the entire traffic block has to be addressed, Gopakumar said.
According to the BKRG plan, the vehicles which arrive to and from Allapuzha, Kottayam, Thammanam, Aluva and Ernakulam city can go on a continuous flow without stops. Passengers cutting Vyttila junction can go unobstructed along the flyover.
The covered area under the bridge is utilised for parking about 100 cars and 210 scooters. The existing informal market around the junction and the mobile food stalls now existing in the junction can also be shifted to this area.
The central island is connected through diagonal pedestrian crossings which go below the road. Spaces for the bus stop and car drop bays near the bus stop are also provided.
The BKRG plans also envisage improvement of the four roads around Vyttila junction as a ring road which will ease the traffic, and is useful to divert traffic during constructions at Vyttila junction.