NHAI Revises Kochi Elevated Highway Design
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has instructed a Bhopal-based consultancy firm to revise the detailed project report (DPR) for the 17-km-long Aroor-Edappally elevated highway. The revision comes as the firm needs to consider the proposed metro viaduct at the Palarivattom Bypass junction, which intersects with the highway’s path. This new directive has complicated the project timeline and added another layer of complexity to what was already a vital and long-awaited infrastructure project in the city of Kochi.
The revised DPR will need to account for the vertical clearance at Palarivattom, where construction of the metro’s Kakkanad extension viaduct is currently underway. The updated design is crucial as the elevated highway will intersect with the metro viaduct at this busy junction. The design process now requires close collaboration between Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) and the consultancy to ensure that both projects, essential for the city’s infrastructure, can coexist without disrupting the flow of traffic. While the technicalities of the clearance are still being worked out, the revised report will incorporate the changes necessary to allow for smooth integration between the elevated highway and metro structures at Palarivattom, Vyttila, and Kundannur junctions. In addition, the highway’s alignment has been adjusted to run parallel to the Kumbalam-Aroor bridge. With the adjustments, authorities expect the revised DPR to be finalised shortly, though the exact timelines remain uncertain.
The Aroor-Edappally stretch is part of the NH 66, one of Kerala’s busiest highways, which connects the state’s southern and northern regions. The 17-km stretch, currently operating as a four-lane highway, sees over one lakh passenger car units (PCUs) each day, making it one of the most congested segments on the entire 609-km stretch of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod highway. Despite its heavy traffic, the highway expansion has yet to commence here, creating a bottleneck that concerns commuters, local residents, and even non-governmental organisations like the Ernakulam District Residents Associations’ Apex Council (EDRAAC). These groups have been vocal about the potential impact this stretch’s congestion could have once the rest of the highway is widened to a minimum six-lane standard. With the elevated highway expected to cost around ₹3,600 crore, the project aims to relieve traffic congestion while improving connectivity to the fast-developing areas along the corridor. This ambitious project will extend the 13-km-long elevated highway currently under construction in the Aroor-Thuravur stretch of Alappuzha, adding up to a total of 30 km of elevated road. The project will include ramps at key locations, such as Vyttila and Madavana, for vehicles to exit the elevated highway at critical points.
The Aroor-Thuravur elevated stretch, already 55% complete, is expected to be open to traffic by February 2026. It is anticipated that once completed, it will substantially reduce traffic congestion in the region, which has long been a challenge for commuters. However, delays in completing the design work for the Aroor-Edappally elevated highway continue to pose challenges. These delays have been brought to the attention of the NHAI by Hibi Eden, the Member of Parliament for Ernakulam, who has pressed for faster progress, citing the urgent need for an efficient transport system for the growing city. Eden has urged the consultancy firm responsible for the DPR to submit the revised report within a month, highlighting the importance of completing the project swiftly. With minimal land acquisition required, as most of the work will be limited to junction modifications, the elevated highway could be completed in a more efficient manner if the design hurdles are cleared. The MP’s call for action underscores the pressing need for infrastructure projects that meet the demands of a rapidly urbanising Kochi.
