An overpass at the Eenchakkal junction along the upcoming four-lane Kazhakuttam-Karode National Highway 66 bypass is under consideration.
The overpass will enable free movement of vehicular traffic along the bypass. The roundabout at the Eenchakkal junction will be demolished and vehicles coming from West Fort and Attakulangara-Sreevarahom bypass will ply beneath the overpass to cross over to Vallakadavu and move along the service road to enter the bypass.
Vertical clearance
A 5.5-m vertical clearance as per the Indian Road Congress (IRC) specifications will be given so that heavy vehicles and the Arat procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple can proceed to Vallakkadavu on way to the Shanghumughom beach.
The path can also be used for those coming along the service road on both sides of the corridor. The overpass will also come in handy if the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) goes ahead with the proposed long-distance bus terminal on its land near the Eenchakkal junction.
The overpass is awaiting the clearance of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, sources in the NHAI told The Hindu .
As the overpass is in the 1.5-km Chakka-Eenchakkal corridor, the works will be taken along with the unidirectional 2-km flyover on the airport approach road from Eenchakkal to Chakka.
Deadline
Only if the Union Ministry gives approval to the overpass, can it be taken up along with the four-laning of the 26.7-km Kazhakuttam-Mukkola stretch that has a November deadline. Work on the two-lane Akkulam bridge has been completed and that on the new bridge at Thiruvallam and rail overbridge at Chakka is in full swing.
