In a significant push to accelerate the much-awaited Edappally-Aroor elevated highway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has formally tasked Highway Engineering Consultant (HEC) with preparing a detailed project report (DPR). This move aims to resolve prolonged design delays that have stalled the critical infrastructure project in Kochi.
Navigating Design Complexities and Revisions
The path to finalizing the project's design has been intricate. Last year, HEC submitted an initial alignment report to NHAI. However, the authority requested a revision because the report did not adequately account for the viaduct of the proposed JLN Stadium-Kakkanad Metro line, which will intersect the highway route at Palarivattom Junction.
Following this, HEC recently submitted a revised alignment report to NHAI's Kochi project office. Subsequently, after issuing a public tender, NHAI has officially appointed HEC to prepare the revised Detailed Project Report. A senior NHAI official confirmed that HEC has commenced the DPR preparation work and expressed confidence that it would be completed within a few months, despite previous holdups.
The official cited complications arising from the upcoming Metro line at Palarivattom and the proposed NH 544 bypass road linking to the elevated highway at Kundannoor as primary reasons for the design-related delays over the past months.
Planned Infrastructure and Pending Challenges
NHAI has already made key design decisions for the project. The plan includes constructing elevated structures that will run parallel to the existing flyovers at both Vyttila and Kundannoor junctions. Furthermore, authorities are considering a cloverleaf flyover at Nettoor, a major confluence point for multiple highways.
This junction will see the meeting of the proposed Angamaly-Kundannoor Kochi bypass (NH 544), the planned NH 966B to Willingdon Island, the Edappally-Aroor elevated highway, and the proposed Theni–Kochi highway. However, a major hurdle remains. The final alignment of NH 966B from Nettoor to Willingdon Island is still undecided due to opposition from the Cochin Port Authority.
This uncertainty not only affects the NH 966B project but also has a ripple effect, delaying the finalization of both the Angamaly-Kundannoor bypass and the Edappally-Aroor elevated highway project.
Traffic Bottleneck Concerns on NH 66
The indefinite delay in starting work on the elevated highway poses a serious threat to urban traffic flow. With work on all other stretches of NH 66 (the Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram highway) expected to be completed by year-end, the Edappally-Aroor section remains the lone exception.
This creates a potential bottleneck. The existing Edappally-Vyttila-Aroor stretch already handles over 100,000 passenger car units daily. Traffic volume is predicted to surge significantly once the six-laning works on the other 23 stretches, including Kodungallur-Edappally and Aroor-Thuravoor, are finished by December.
The unfinished development of this crucial urban corridor raises significant concerns about future traffic management and vehicular movement. The delay threatens to undermine the efficiency gains from the broader NH 66 expansion, impacting overall traffic flow across the state.
