GCDA’s ring road project gets Chandy’s approval

The road has been envisaged as four-lane in the first phase, which is likely to cost about Rs. 360 crore.

: The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) on Friday received a shot in the arm when Chief Minister Oommen Chandy gave the agency the nod to go ahead with its long-cherished ring road project.

The decision came at a meeting convened by the Chief Minister.

The proposed ring road starts from Chathyath near the Goshree Bridge at Marine Drive and connects Vaduthala, Chittoor, Kothad, Chennoor, Thutthukkadavu, before crossing the national highway at Varapuzha and the Seaport-Airport Road, to connect Keezhmad and Puthencruz before ending at Panangad along NH 47 via Udayamperur and Kumbalam.

The first phase till Vaduthala of the 64-kilometer road would be built on pillars since permission to fill backwaters has not been granted.

The road has been envisaged as four-lane in the first phase, which is likely to cost about Rs. 360 crore. The second phase would be from Cheranalloor to Varapuzha and the third phase from NH 17 to Athani at NH 47. The fourth phase would be between Puthencruz on NH 47 and NH 49 while the final phase would be from Puthencruz to Panangad.