The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has asked its consultant-cum-operation maintenance tolling (OMT) contractor Kochi-Aroor Tollways Private Limited (KATPL) to probe ways to decongest Vyttila Junction where motorists are encountering nightmarish traffic snarls.
The plan includes extension of Subhash Bose Road eastward to link it with service roads that flank Vyttila railway overbridge. The road that runs parallel to SA Road would then be able to accommodate light vehicles when traffic is regulated for Kochi Metro and flyover works at Vyttila Junction.
NHAI sources said that the demand for a second underpass beneath Vyttila bridge came up at a recent meeting convened by P.T. Thomas, MLA. “The Kochi Corporation must make temporary arrangements to smoothen traffic flow until the underpass project comes through. Minimal land acquisition will have to be done, while also ensuring that the road extension does not in any way affect IOC pipelines that lay in the vicinity,” they said.
The Kochi Project Director of NHAI Chandrasekhar Reddy said that the agency is awaiting a report from KATPL. “It will then be forwarded to our head office, for permission and funds.” On why NHAI is not clearing push carts and autorickshaw stands that occupy a sizeable width of service roads and choke traffic, he said that it is up to the police to remove these encroachers.
The MLA and others had sought urgent steps to clear the traffic snarls at Vyttila foreseeing influx of thousands of additional vehicles following the commissioning of the Edappally flyover and the impending opening of the Palarivattom flyover.
Mr. Thomas said a meeting of officials of different departments was convened to make optimal use of alternative roads to divert vehicles which arrive at the junction. All that is required to open the second underpass is to tar the two roads that link it with service roads. Extending Subhash Bose Road will also lessen snarls at Ponnurunni and either end of the Ponnurunni bridge, he said.
CPI(M) Vyttila area secretary N. Satheesh said the road extension work can be done if a few small plots of land are acquired.
“Steps must also be taken to commence work on the flyover and to ensure safety of pedestrians crossing the junction at the earliest. The Vyttila-Kunnara Park corridor must be four-laned by the PWD since KMRL is widening only the Kunnara-Pettah stretch to commence metro rail works,” he said.
