Kochi: With no let up on traffic congestion at the busy Edapally Junction along the National Highway despite construction of a flyover, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has mooted the construction of a subway at the section where NH 47 and NH 17 meets. The move comes even as the City Traffic Police has written to the NHAI, the Corporation and the district among others to take urgent steps to de-congest the junction. "According to the 2014-15 figures, the number of vehicles using the highway grows at a rate of 10 per cent. We've suggested a plan for subways to the district administration so as to ease the congestion and also taking into consideration the future traffic needs," said a senior NHAI official.
The NHAI last week submitted final alignment report with regard to widening of the Edapally-Moothakunnam section to 45 meters to the collector. It also said it would soon start a study to find out the estimated cost for an elevated highway in the 17-km Edapally-Aroor stretch, another plan to get nod. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had constructed a flyover at a cost of Rs 108 crore to de-congest the narrow and ill-planned Edappally junction. However, the traffic congestion is still a major issue. Even DMRC principal advisor E. Sreedharan had batted for a subway too for easing up the traffic flow.
"The NH section towards Aluva side just after the signal lights is the narrowest one in the entire national highway section through the state. Here only a two-lane traffic is possible and often one lane will be filled with vehicles to a popular mall near-by," said Bijoy Chandran, Circle Inspector, Traffic East. The City Traffic Police has even submitted a "short-term solution" proposal to the authorities concerned. "It includes by widening of the two-lane road (Aluva side) by using the walkway space, diverting traffic towards the mall from Palarivattom side to the entrance at NH-17 section. This can be done by diverting the vehicles through the old Varapuzha road at Edapally and asking them to take the underpass under the ROB. We've asked the NHAI to widen the road there to facilitate the same," the officer said.
