NHAI Orders Rework of Aroor-Edapally Highway Plan
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has instructed the project consultant to rework the alignment of the proposed Aroor-Edapally elevated highway project after realising that the initial design did not account for the Kochi Metro viaduct, which crosses the Palarivattom bypass junction. This revision comes as the second phase of the Kochi Metro, which connects the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with Infopark, moves forward.A senior NHAI official confirmed that the detailed project report (DPR) consultant has been tasked with revising the highway alignment to accommodate the metro’s elevated structure.
“We’ve directed the consultant to submit a revised plan incorporating necessary adjustments for the metro viaduct crossover within a month,” the official stated. The metro viaduct, which is a critical section of the second phase, is positioned above the Palarivattom flyover and will be one of the highest points of the Pink Line, requiring special infrastructure to ensure the highway and metro structures can coexist seamlessly.The revised highway alignment will need to consider not only the metro viaduct but also the challenges posed by the existing infrastructure at the Palarivattom bypass. The consultant is also instructed to assess the optimal alignment to avoid disrupting the metro’s development.
This highway project, which is part of a larger initiative to improve road infrastructure in Kerala, is expected to reduce traffic congestion along the busy NH 66 bypass, which currently faces heavy vehicle flow. The 12.75 km Aroor-Thuravoor elevated highway is expected to be completed by February 2026. NHAI has already finished 50% of the work on this stretch and aims to ensure a smooth and efficient traffic flow with the completion of this key project.Furthermore, the NHAI has been working towards ensuring the project stays within the Right of Way (ROW) of existing roads, minimising the need for land acquisition. Only minor land acquisitions are planned at the start and end points of the project.
However, another major project in the region, a four-lane corridor linking Willingdon Island with the Aroor-Edappally NH 66 bypass, is facing delays due to objections from the Cochin Port Trust. The trust has raised concerns about the land acquisition for a 2.2 km stretch at the CIFT Junction, pushing for an alternative alignment that would increase the project cost by approximately Rs 100 crore.These developments reflect ongoing efforts to address traffic congestion in Kochi and improve connectivity between key areas, although challenges such as aligning new infrastructure with existing projects continue to pose hurdles.
