Kochi: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has started a vehicle survey on the NH 47 bypass section from Edappally to Aroor to explore possibility of road widening and implementing safety measures.
To facilitate the study, the NHAI has installed high-intensity cameras at five places—Aroor, Kundanoor, Vytilla, Palarivattom and Edapally.
“The exercise is being carried out by the NHAI headquarters directly through the contractor, EFKON Intelligent Traffic Management System. The stretch is witnessing the heaviest density in the state when it comes to flow of vehicles. However, we have no scientific data so far,” a senior NHAI official said.
“The aim of the survey is to identify danger spots, most congested areas and the like to determine where all the road stretches can be widened. We’ll also initiate more safety measures like cutting U-turns, putting up signboards and high mast lights”.
The vehicle counting exercise at Palarivattom and Edapally was completed by Thursday midnight and that at the remaining locations within a week.
Currently, the 17-km corridor is a four-lane stretch and the NHAI plans to widen it to six-lane or eight-lane at possible sections to accommodate the increasing flow of vehicles. For this, the service roads, road shoulders and other vacant spaces would be added to the main carriage way.
The upcoming flyovers at Kundanoor, Vytilla, Palarivattom and Edapally too would be of eight lane. “The aim is to facilitate smooth flow of traffic and also to meet future needs,” the official said.
