Rights panel asks Public Works Department to start Kochi flyovers soon

KOCHI: The State Human Rights Commission has ordered the Public Works Department and the National Highway Authority to start construction of flyovers at the busy Vyttila and Kundanoor junctions within two months. The interim order is based on a petition filed by Kochi corporation councillor Thambi Subrahmanian. Commission acting chairman P. Mohandas, in his order, asked PWD additional chief secretary and NHAI executive engineer to get technical and administrative sanction for the projects immediately. They have to submit the action-taken report within three months. The case will be considered during the commission's sitting to be held in Ernakulam in February.

Meanwhile, the PWD additional chief secretary informed the commission that administrative sanction of Rs 108 crore for Vyttila and Rs 80.20 crore for Kundanoor flyovers had already been given. Tenders were invited for some of the works. The NHAI chief engineer has already submitted the design and DPRs of both constructions to the Kerala Road Fund Board for technical sanction. Since the roads are owned by the NHAI, the authority should provide a no-objection certificate to start construction works, it has been submitted before the commission. Though the petitioner has approached the rights panel seeking measures for the construction of a rail over bridge and underpass at Vathuruthy to resolve the traffic congestion in west Kochi, the railway authorities sought time to submit a report on it.