Kochi: Major works for flyover construction at busy Vytilla junction have begun with the authorities restricting vehicular traffic flow towards Kundannoor direction to single lane. "We're implementing vehicular restrictions only in a step by step manner so that minimum difficulty is posed to commuters. The work has begun at the Southern side with the road there being dug up after erecting barricades," said assistant executive engineer K.S. Jayaraj, who is in charge of monitoring the project. With the local residents protesting against imposing major traffic restrictions, the authorities have decided not to implement traffic restriction at the northern end for the time being.
"We'll complete a major part of the work like piling at the Southern end. The work of dismantling medians and foot paths for facilitating the flyover construction is over," the official said. Two separate three-lane flyovers will be constructed in the Aroor-Edapally direction along the NH-66. The length of the bridge and approach road together is 717 meters towards the Thiruvananthapuram side while that towards the Aluva side is 702.41 meters. The project work also includes setting up of two slip roads -- the 320-meter long for easy access to the Mobility Hub and the 375 -meter one to Aluva side, setting up of street light all along the two service roads and canal construction.
"We'll be forced to impose traffic restriction on both ends from next month onwards when the vehicles coming from Sahodaran Ayyappan Road have to turn left at the junction and proceed towards Tammanam side before taking right turn to reach the other side through the railway underpass," the official said. Meanwhile, the residents associations have demanded that the traffic regulation plan be implemented only after taking the local residents into confidence. "Despite approaching the officials many times, they are yet to reveal the diversion plan," said Ernakulam District Residents Association Apex Council (EDRAAC) president Ranganatha Prabhu.
