In a significant development for Thiruvananthapuram's infrastructure, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has agreed in principle to adopt a new, safer design for the long-stalled Kumarichantha flyover project on National Highway 66. The authority will now move forward with a five-pillar design featuring a 30-meter gap between pillars, a major shift from its earlier proposal.
Public Pressure and Safety Incidents Force Rethink
The project, envisioned to decongest the perpetually busy Kumarichantha junction, had been stuck for years due to a stalemate over its structural design. Initially, NHAI pushed for a three-pillar structure with a 20-meter gap, citing technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness. However, this plan met with fierce opposition from local residents, traders, and action committees.
They raised serious alarms about soil stability, drainage complications, and long-term safety, especially concerning the extensive soil filling required for the earlier design. Their persistent protests and representations by elected leaders effectively stalled the project.
The situation reached a critical point following recent retaining wall collapses at NH 66 construction sites in Kottiyam and parts of Malappuram district. These incidents caused public outrage and intensified scrutiny of the construction methodology involving massive soil filling supported by retaining walls.
A New Focus on Pillars and Stability
Prompted by these safety failures, NHAI decided to revisit its design philosophy for the Kumarichantha flyover. An NHAI official stated that the authority is open to revising designs to ensure public safety. "In light of the recent incidents and the concerns raised by locals, we decided to re-examine the structural design," the official said.
The new five-pillar approach aims to minimize soil filling and reduce dependence on vulnerable retaining walls. The revised strategy focuses on increasing the number of pillars to lessen lateral pressure on embankments, thereby enhancing the overall stability and safety of the flyover. Technical teams are now expected to conduct fresh soil tests and prepare a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Political Intervention and Public Victory
Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor played a key role in the breakthrough. He confirmed that his intervention led to a positive outcome, with NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav taking the decision to revise the design. Tharoor noted that the revised plan was accepted after consultations with leaders of the people's action committee.
Expressing gratitude to the NHAI chairman for considering public demand, Tharoor appealed to citizens to withdraw protest programs and cooperate with construction work, now that a permanent solution appears to be in sight. The Kumarichantha junction is a critical traffic node, handling heavy volumes of long-distance and local vehicles daily, and the flyover is considered vital for smoother traffic flow and accident reduction.
