Demand for widening Vyttila, Kundannoor junctions gathers steam.

With State government putting on hold flyovers proposed at Vyttila and Kundannoor citing fund crunch, there is mounting demand to initiate temporary measures to decongest the two junctions on NH Bypass.

In 2011, the Kerala State government had given in-principle approval for a proposal to set up a ring road connecting the eastern parts of the city with Vyttila mobility hub. This remains on paper despite increasing traffic snarls at Vyttila.

Better Kochi Response Group (BKRG), an NGO, had proposed another ring road around Vyttila in 2011, by widening a few side roads along the NH Bypass and by making optimal use of the service roads and underpasses around the junction. It was to serve the purpose of a clover-leaf shaped flyover, which cannot be built in the limited space at the junction. The idea was to enable a good share of light vehicles to avoid Vyttila junction by using the widened side roads. This simpler proposal too has not been given attention.

P.A. Hashim, nodal officer for flyovers along NH 47 Bypass, said he expected the government to earmark adequate funds for the two flyovers at least in the next financial year. 'The flyovers have been put on hold despite the Public Works Department (PWD) telling Finance Department that funds were required only in 2016. We have Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) funds to meet expenses in 2014 and 2015,' he said.

THE HINDU