The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has placed a crucial infrastructure project on hold in Kerala.
The proposed six-lane elevated highway along the congested Edappally-Aroor NH 66 Bypass will wait for a decision until the Lok Sabha election results are finalised. This news comes despite the Detailed Project Report (DPR) nearing its final stages. The initial plan targeted March 2024 for DPR finalisation, followed by tenders in April and finalisation by May. However, with the current delay, the project’s fate now hinges on the upcoming election outcome. This strategic pause by NHAI indicates a potential shift in infrastructure priorities based on the incoming government’s stance. The rationale behind the elevated highway stems from the NH 66 bypass’s notoriety as Kerala’s most congested corridor. Heavy development on both sides of the existing highway restricts conventional widening options. The proposed elevated solution aims to decongest the traffic flow by providing a separate, high-speed lane.
Interestingly, the firm preparing the DPR for the Edappally-Aroor Bypass also handled the DPR for the Aroor-Thuravur stretch’s elevated highway project. Construction on the latter project is progressing well, with over 20% completed. The pace suggests a potential early completion by 2025, exceeding initial projections. However, the Edappally-Aroor Bypass faces a different timeline. While decongestion is the primary objective, the project’s execution raises concerns about a potential exacerbation of the traffic situation in the short term. Once the Aroor-Thuravur elevated highway is operational and the Edappally-Muthakunnam stretch is widened (both by 2025), traffic on the Edappally-Aroor Bypass is expected to worsen due to diverted vehicles.
NHAI is exploring additional measures to mitigate congestion alongside the elevated highway project. This includes constructing a pair of six-lane underpasses on either side of the Edappally flyover. The elevated corridor itself is likely to run parallel to existing flyovers at Palarivattom, Vyttila, and Kundannur, minimising land acquisition needs. Notably, the NHAI might utilise the National Highways Act for land acquisition due to its streamlined procedures compared to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LAARA), 2013. The construction timeline for the elevated highway, once initiated, is estimated at 30-36 months. This period will necessitate traffic diversions, potentially utilising service roads. While the project promises long-term relief from congestion, the short-term disruptions and the wait for the election results add layers of complexity to the Edappally-Aroor Bypass saga.
