Kochi: Authorities on Thursday commenced the major central span work of the new three-lane Edappally railway overbridge (ROB), a critical bottleneck on the Edappally-Moothakunnam NH 66 corridor, as the railways initiated train regulations for a week.
Work Progress and Challenges
“We have started the major work of ROB in the railway portions. Railways effected a blockade on the Up-line on Thursday. The most challenging task — the launch of the BOW string girder — will be undertaken on Monday when regulation will be in effect on both Up and Down lines,” an NHAI official said.
Given the busy nature of the corridor, work is being executed during the night. “We commenced preparatory work on June 2. Now we require another 10 days to fully complete the girder launch activities,” the official added.
Key Specifications
The new Edappally ROB will span a total length of 633 meters and a width of 15 meters. The most critical segment, a massive 63.48-meter span directly over the active railway tracks, uses specialized steel girders fabricated and transported from Delhi.
“We will slide the structure (BOW string girder) over the tracks, connecting both sides of the highway corridor in a swift operation on Monday,” the official said.
Train Regulations
The following trains will be delayed due to the work:
- Train No 12695 MGR Chennai Central-TVM Central Superfast Express, leaving MGR Chennai Central on June 15, will be delayed by 15 minutes.
- Train No 16188 Ernakulam-Karaikal Express, leaving Ernakulam Jn on June 15, will be delayed by 15 minutes.
- Train No 16331 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-TVM Central Express, leaving Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on June 14, will be delayed by 20 minutes.
- Train No 16336 Nagercoil Junction-Gandhidham Express, leaving Nagercoil Junction on June 16, will be delayed by 40 minutes.
- Train No 16316 TVM North-Mysuru Express, leaving TVM North on June 16, will be delayed by 20 minutes.
- Train No 16381 Pune-Kanyakumari Express, leaving Pune Junction on June 15 and 16, will be delayed by 30 minutes.
- Train No 16315 Mysuru-TVM North Express, leaving Mysuru on June 16 and 17, will be delayed by 20 minutes.
- Train No 22208 TVM Central-MGR Chennai Central AC Express, leaving TVM Central on June 17, will be delayed by 20 minutes.
- Train No 16188 Ernakulam-Karaikal Express, leaving Ernakulam Jn on June 16, will be delayed by 10 minutes.
