A meeting of the Campaign for Economic and Most Appropriate Transport System (CEMATS) has demanded that the state government implement effective and comprehensive developmental measures for resolving the traffic congestion issues in Kochi.
The city is currently choking under heavy traffic congestion and speedy completion of the four proposed flyovers here is the need of the hour, the meeting stated.
NHAI Project Director C T Abraham, who was the key speaker at the function, pointed out the various land acquisition hurdles which have to be dealt with whenever a flyover project is mooted in Kerala.
In Kochi, as per the estimates of the NHAI, the entire cost of the four proposed flyovers at Edappally, Vyttila, Palarivattom and Kundanoor is expected to be approximately `1,450 crore. Out of this, nearly `1,000 crore would be required only for the land acquisition purpose.
“We have proposed the construction of a six-lane bridge at Vyttila, Palarivattom and Kundanoor. However, at Edappally, the DMRC has suggested the construction of a four-lane flyover, which might not prove enough to tackle the traffic congestion,” C T Abraham said.
He suggested that wherever a project is deemed viable, the implementation is best carried out in a private-public partnership. Town Planning Chairman K J Sohan said that the traffic and transport system of the city should be developed keeping in mind the city-specific situation. He added that the government has failed to consider the studies and suggestions made for Kochi’s development by consultant agencies such as RITES and NATPAC.
HABITAT project director P Vinod gave a presentation on projects which could help resolve traffic congestion at Edappally.
