The U.S.-based Louis Berger has emerged as the most preferred bidder to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for hewing out the proposed Kundannoor-Angamaly national highway bypass.
The bypass will provide relief to commuters who now have to travel through the congested Aroor-Edappally NH bypass and the Edappally-Angamaly NH 47 corridor. Both these four-lane stretches carry over a lakh passenger car units (PCUs) daily. “The volume of vehicles needs an eight-lane road to commute safely and at reasonable speed,” National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials said.
“The DPR stating the project cost, quantum of land acquisition and alignment options for the proposed 45-metre-wide bypass have to be submitted by April 2018,” the officials said.
Three firms were in the bid to bag the contract to prepare the report. A week ago, the NHAI concluded its interview with key personnel of the MNC firm, following which they submitted their proposal. The letter of acceptance (LOA) by the NHAI will be issued in a week and an agreement inked with the firm by month-end.
“Our emphasis is on minimising land acquisition, for which the firm has been asked to submit three alignments. The NHAI will choose the one which causes least relocation to land owners, while at the same time adhering to safety standards fixed by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC). PowerPoint presentations will be made before ministers, people’s representatives from the region, key State government and district-level officials, to ensure transparency and clarity on the project,” NHAI sources said.
The project entails a four-lane bypass, flanked by service roads on either side.
Vyttila-Thuravoor link
The officials said that another firm, Feedback Infra, was expected to submit a DPR shortly on developing the 31-km-long Vyttila-Thuravoor NH bypass stretch into a wider, safer corridor. The report will contain suggestions on widening the road wherever possible, building flyovers, underpasses and foot overbridges, to streamline traffic flow and to ensure the safety of pedestrians.
Flyovers
A decision on building flyovers at Vyttila and Kundannoor is long awaited, though both the NHAI and the PWD had readied a DPR each. Neither agency has pro-actively intervened, despite serpentine traffic snarls at the two junctions.
Pedestrians too are finding it difficult to cross the junctions.