KOCHI: Kochi city is set to add two more flyovers before this month-end with the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation (RBDCK) and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) fast completing the works on Palarivattom and Edappally flyovers respectively. According to RBDCK managing director A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, the works on the Palarivattom flyover would be completed before July 31. “What is left on the flyover work is tarring and we need four-five sunny days for that. We are ready for opening before July 31,” Mr Hanish said.
The DMRC has also worked fast on the Edappally flyover and the officials are understood to be aiming to make the new political dispensation offer the two flyovers as their first combined gift to the city that generates most revenue in the state.
“The work on Edappally flyover is 95 percent over and what remains is tarring and certain works on the top portion. If we get a dry spell of 10 days, we will be able to complete the entire work,” said a DMRC official. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is expected to inaugurate both the Palarivattom and Edappally flyovers together during one of his visits to the city after assuming charge.
The opening of the flyovers will be a relief to thousands of commuters who are stranded for up to 15 minutes at peak hours at the two junctions. However the relief will be partial in the case of both junctions as signals in certain directions will be still functioning at the junctions while in the case of Palarivattom junction, expansion of the Pipeline Junction will have to happen to ease the traffic congestion totally in the Palarivattom-Kakkanad stretch. The administration has to acquire land for the expansion of the Pipeline Junction.
