A firm engaged by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has mooted the widening of the Edappally-Vyttila bypass on NH 66 (formerly NH 47) to six lanes, while an underpass has been proposed at Edappally to link the bypass with NH 17 to decongest traffic.
In addition, foot overbridges (FOBs) would come up at Edappally and Chalikkavattom to ensure safety of pedestrians. The NHAI engaged the firm to prepare a detailed project report to streamline movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the Edappally-Thuravoor stretch, official sources said.
Service roads
But a proposal by the NHAI’s Kochi project office to widen service roads on the Edappally-Vyttila stretch from 5.5 metres to 7.5 metres is hanging fire since the agency’s head office has not cleared it. The Kochi office had readied an estimate for widening service roads by paving existing road shoulders using concrete blocks to enable smooth movement of vehicles in either direction.
Currently, many parts of service roads are ridden with potholes and encroached upon by shops or vendors. Haphazard parking is yet another problem. Elaborating on how the four-lane Edappally-Vyttila corridor would be widened to six lane, NHAI sources said that the width of the road median could be reduced from 4.5 metres to 1.5 metres, while the space occupied by the side median and drains could be added to the main carriageway. “The drains will have to be rebuilt on the extreme ends and utility pipelines or cables shifted. There will still be space for 7.5 metre-wide service roads on either side.”
Even six lanes will not be sufficient in the long run since over 1 lakh passenger car units use the stretch daily. An eight-lane road is needed to cater to the present volume of vehicles.
While six-lane flyovers are set to come up at Vyttila and Kundannoor in another 20 months, underpasses that cost lesser are likely to come up at other junctions on the 16-km-long Edappally-Aroor NH bypass. FOBs are also needed in front of Oberon Mall, EMC Hospital, Chakkaraparambu and Vyttila, where there is high pedestrian movement.
A senior NHAI official said that road markings and pedestrian crossing lines would be marked in the corridor once rains take a break. Conventional reflectors and cat-eye reflectors too will be installed to ensure safe navigation at night.
Expressing concern at the increase in accidents on the NH bypass, NH 66 and other key roads, Assistant Commissioner of Edappally Traffic Police Abdul Salam K. A. said that 11 people died in road accidents recently in areas that came under his jurisdiction (which included Thripunithura). “Seventy per cent of these accidents occurred at night. A few hit-and-run incidents too were reported, though none of it caused deaths.”
“Accident-prone areas are being mapped on NHs and other roads to take preventive measures. We have asked the NHAI and PWD to repair potholes on roads and augment safety measures. Moreover, 26 Kerala Home Guards personnel, who recently joined duty, are being posted in areas vulnerable to accidents,” Mr. Salam said.
