Thiruvananthapuram is to become a better city soon as crowded streets and important roads will receive infrastructural improvement in the days ahead. A new flyover will be built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at Kumarichantha Junction to clear up traffic congestion and reduce hazards in the area. This is a part of the bigger plan to address the continuing traffic snarls on the NH 66 stretch between Kazhakkoottam and Kovalam, which are known for regular accidents and bottlenecks.
Why a flyover at Kumarichantha junction?
The Kumarichantha Junction had always been notorious as a traffic blockage and accidents point, specially on the bustling NH 66. With each passing day, many vehicles pass by this stretch and the existing infrastructures have never been able to cope with these demands, ultimately creating dangerous situations in traffic movements. In order to eliminate this issue, the NHAI has decided to construct an 800-meter flyover at this junction, where it will smoothen congestion and reduce possibilities of accidents occurring.
The NHAI Project Director in Thiruvananthapuram said that the flyover is a necessity for free flow of traffic between Chackai and Kovalam. The new flyover will include the approach roads on both sides along with retaining walls and two supporting pillars at the junction to give necessary structural support.
Project Details and Timeline
The estimated cost is around Rs 22 crore to construct the flyover at Kumarichantha. The work shall be carried in stages. Work on soil tests has already commenced to assess site conditions for its construction. Only after the soil test, piling work will come into action within a short duration.
It will take approximately 12 months in order to complete the construction of the entire flyover. Once complete, the flyover will have alleviated some traffic congestion around that area significantly while offering the easiest route from Chackai and Kovalam sectors.
NHAI Proposes to Upgrade Road Safety
A few more steps incorporated for NH 66 road to be made safe. NHAI has envisaged detailed project report for erecting streetlights at several accident-prone points at the highway. Some of the listed accident-prone points are mentioned below:
Venpalavattom overpass
Muttathara overpass
Enchakkal flyover
Kumarichantha flyover (after completion)
Thiruvallam service bridge
Along with this, streetlights will also be put up at the Kazhakkoottam-Kadampattukonam stretch which is presently being constructed. The lighting steps are also anticipatory to increase the visibility besides safety, as most of the accidents occur in night time.
Regional Infrastructure Development
The new flyover and streetlighting projects are not safety measures alone but form part of a larger attempt to upgrade the infrastructural development in the region. Of them is the streetlighting of the median along the stretch between Lulu Mall and MGM Public School in association with Lulu Mall. It will also make high-traffic stretches better lit to make the experience safer for one and all.
Archaeological Aspects in the Project
Construction of the service bridge at Thiruvallam took a little time to be completed as it clashed with the Parasurama Temple, an old structure of over centuries of importance to the archaeology world. Despite objections by the state archaeology department, NHAI got the go-ahead permission for construction and since then continued its work without further stoppages.
Conclusion
The construction of the flyover will be a landmark in ease and elimination of traffic congestion and road safety along the NH 66 corridor. This project is estimated to be completed in 12 months and at a total cost of Rs 22 crores, which will certainly help ease the tension of commuters and reduce accidents in the area. Other periphery improvements that will make traveling along NH 66 safer and even more efficient include streetlighting projects.
Refer :
TOI, Link to article
For more updates on the latest developments in the Urban Infrastructure sector, check out our article on Thane Metro 4A Delay: Cost Overruns and Extended Timeline