Opening of Palarivattom, Edappally flyovers likely by June 30

KOCHI: Palarivattom and Edappally flyovers are getting ready after slipping many deadlines. They are likely to open this month considerably easing traffic at the two NH junctions. “Works are in the final stages, and if it is not raining continuously, we will be able to complete them by June 30," RBDC-K additional general manager M. T. Thankachan said.

"Concreting of slabs over the 35-metre-long central span is over while the 25-metre long span on the northern side will be concreted next week. Another major work to be completed is development and tarring of approach roads. Fixing handrails and painting can be finished without much delay.”

The flyover is 600-metre long, including the 200-metre ramp portions. Widening of 400 metres of the junction on the Palarivattom and Alinchuvadu sides, though scheduled to be taken up along with the flyover work, has been postponed. It is learnt that the work will be carried out as part of the preparatory works for the Kakkanad line of Kochi Metro, which plans to widen the Palarivattom–Kakka- nad Road to 22 metres.

Former chief minister Oommen Chandy kicked off the construction of the Rs 72-crore flyover on June 1, 2014. Though former PWD minister had announced its commissioning by early 2016, it slipped many deadlines. The flyover at Edappally, another busiest traffic bottleneck along NH47, also is expected to be operational soon. The two-lane portion on the northern side is ready, while that on the southern side is nearing completion.