Construction of Flyover at Edappally – A Curtain Raiser

KOCHI:
Edappally is one of the busiest Junctions where Kanyakumari – Salem National Highway, which is popularly known as NH/47 and Edappally – Panvel National Highway, which is popularly known as NH/17 joins with city road from Palarivattom to Edappally.
Due to large number of vehicles to be handled at Edappally, there is heavy detention to road vehicles in all four directions at this junction. Even though there was demand for a flyover at Edappally Jn. for a long time, due to difficulty in constructing flyover at this busy junction, no work could be sanctioned.
With the sanction of Kochi Metro work between Aluva and Petta, DMRC advised Kerala Government that if a flyover at this Junction was to be done, the same should be done along with the Metro work. Later on a flyover will not be possible. DMRC also prepared a proposal for the construction of a 4-lane flyover in Aluva – Palarivattom
direction so that road traffic in this direction will move at first level and metro at the second level. The proposal at a total cost of Rs.108.77 Crores was submitted to Government of Kerala on 05.03.2013 and Government of Kerala sanctioned this work for execution along with the Metro work in May 2013. The proposal involves land acquisition at a cost of Rs.54.54 Crores and construction of Flyover at a cost of Rs.54.23 Crores.
The scheme consists of two numbers of 2-lane flyovers on both sides of metro piers and two lane roads on both sides at ground level. Thus total width of all roads is 39.40 M, which includes two footpaths of 2M and 2 Nos. 7.50 M. at ground level, 2 Nos. 8.4 m. vide flyover and 2.1 M. space for the Metro pier. Slope on Flyover is 1 in 27 m.
Total length of flyover is 433 M. out of which 283 M. is a bridge structure. Flyover has a central span of 35 m. with a vertical clearance of 5.5 m. This width will enable an underpass to be constructed for the N
H/17 in future. Flyover is supported on 24 piers with 90 piles.
The approximate completion cost of Flyover is Rs.38 Crores as against the estimated cost of Rs.49.00 crores, thus having a saving of Rs.11.00 Crores. This could be achieved by adopting a very economical and innovative design for the flyover.
Foundation work for this flyover was commenced in January 2015 after completion of road diversion through the acquired lands and flyover work completed in August 2016 (Total 20 Months). The work was carried out by Larsen & Toubro along with the Main Metro work and Flyover was designed by (Retd.) Prof. P.K. Aravindan of IIT, Chennai.
This Flyover will not completely solve the road congestion at
this Junction. DMRC had proposed an underpass for NH/17 and an elevated flyover – byepass from NH/17 to NH/47 to the Government as a total solution.