Total' solution eludes Vyttila

Kochi: The Public Works Department (PWD), which is set to commence the construction of a flyover at Vyttila on Monday, is yet to decide on a complete traffic solution at the state’s busiest junction. As against its earlier assurance to construct an underpass linking SA Road and Trippunithura Road soon after the flyover work, a top official of the PWD said it was yet to take a decision on the second phase of the project.  “We’re yet to decide on Underpass construction. For that we will first conduct a study (on the need). However, we will complete the flyover construction by May 2019 (18 months) itself as targeted,” said Suresh P G, Chief Engineer, PWD (NH Wing).

Earlier, following opposition from various quarters to limit its plan to flyover in a single direction, the PWD senior officials had assured that the underpass construction would be initiated in six months. An underpass is necessary for smooth flow of traffic in the east-west direction, as the proposed flyover will come up in the north-south direction. Meanwhile, experts said even the underpass plan would be expensive and would not serve the intended purpose.“ The ground water level at Vyttila is as high as at a depth of one metre from the ground level. So construction of an underpass at such a location will be extremely expensive and a technical challenge,” said G Gopinathan, Convenor, Development Sub Committee, Kerala Sasthrasahithya Parishath.

“However if such a thing is made nevertheless, what will be the arrangement for traffic in Edappally-Ernakulam, Ernakulam-Alappuzha, Tripunithura-Edappally and Alappuzha-Tripunithura routes? These routes will have to depend upon the signal system and the resultant unnecessary wastage of fuel for decades to come,” he charged. Earlier, KITCO had presented a proposal to construct a flyover at Powerhouse Road junction and make an underpass at the southern side of the existing railway overbridge as the complete traffic solution, argued that it would ensure that vehicles need not go for direct crossings at the junction. However, it was rejected. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the '82 crore flyover construction work at 11.30 am on Monday.