KOCHI: A fast and safe transportation system is the need of the hour and the government is bound to develop the necessary infrastructure for this, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Monday. Launching the construction work of the Vyttila flyover , Pinarayi said lack of funds will not prove a hindrance to the project. "The government's main agenda is development. Improved infrastructure is the key to attain development. So the government is giving special focus to the construction of roads and bridges. Though the Vyttila stretch is under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the flyover project is being implemented by the state, " he said.
The CM said the flyover's design and construction will be undertaken in a scientific way.
"There is no need for any apprehension on this front. I have taken note of the opinions from various quarters soon after the announcement of the proposed flyover. I have consulted the officers concerned and they said the entire work will be carried out in a most scientific manner. The NHAI has granted the necessary sanctions for executing the work," he said.
He expressed the hope the flyover will decongest Vyttila Junction, which is an intersection of Panavel-Kanyakumari National Highway(NH) and Ernakulam-Ettumanoor State Highway(SH). The government had allotted `113 crore for the flyover project through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The design of the flyover includes the construction of two bridges which will allow three-lane traffic in either direction. Each bridge in the flyover will have 12 spans of 30 m each and a central span with a length of 40 m. The bridge towards the Alappuzha side will have a length of 717 m, including the approach road, while the one towards the Aluva side will be 702.41 m-long.
A slip road having a length of 320 m will be developed towards the mobility hub while a 375 metre-long one will be built towards Aluva.
Toll-free
Works Minister G Sudhakaran in his presidential address said the bridges and roads constructed by the state government will indeed be toll-free. "The government does not want to impose additional burden on the public by levying a toll. We have already stopped toll collection at nine spots in the state. The government is also planning to undertake scientific studies to ease traffic congestion. Our aim is to remodel the roads with the latest available technologies.
We are also requesting the contractors to update themselves and launch more advanced technologies for resurfacing and constructing the roads," he said.Sudhakaran dubbed the protests against the delay in launching the Kundannoor flyover work as unwarranted. "The case of a bidder, whose pre-qualification tender was rejected, is still pending before the High Court. The issues arising out of this is the reason for the hold up," he said. He said securing a stay from the court will delay the launch of the work and hence the government is mulling cancelling the licence of such contractors. Further, Sudhakaran said 14 flyovers are under various stages of construction in the state.
Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said new techniques and equipment should be introduced in road construction. " Through the introduction of the latest technology, not only the quality of the roads but the number of roads can be increased," he said.
More projects in phase II
In the second phase of Vyttila flyover construction, some related infrastructure projects are also in the pipeline. These include the construction of an underpass at Vyttila Junction, Isaac said. Mayor Soumini Jain drew the ministers' attention to the terrible condition of the Thammanam- Pulleppady stretch. Isaac, on his part, said if the Corporation is ready to handover the road to the government, it will think of undertaking the development works.
Each bridge in the flyover will have 12 spans of 30 m each and a central span with a length of 40 m. The bridge towards the Alappuzha side will have a length of 717 m, including the approach road, while the one towards the Aluva side will be 702.41 m-long. A slip road having a length of 320 m will be developed towards the mobility hub while a 375 metre-long one will be built towards Aluva.