Kochi: Action has officially begun on the development of Thiruvankulam Junction, aimed at easing the acute traffic congestion along the Karingachira-Thiruvankulam section of NH 85, minister Anoop Jacob said on Wednesday.
To improve safety, NHAI plans to acquire a 30-metre-wide strip of land at Thiruvankulam Junction under National Highways Act. As many as 17 land valuation reports for Kureekkad ROB will be approved within three days to release funding from KIIFB. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news.
Survey director J O Arun said extra surveyors will be deployed to complete field measurements within two weeks once alignment plans are received. District collector G Priyanka said land acquisition for Kureekkad railway overbridge (ROB), another long-pending demand for the region, is in the final stage. During an online review meeting, NHAI officials noted that the Union ministry of road transport has designated both Thiruvankulam and Karingachira as high-risk ‘black spots’. Jacob issued several suggestions to ease traffic movement in the region, like the construction of a dedicated bus bay at Thiruvankulam Junction facing Muvattupuzha direction, rebuilding broken roadside drains and concrete cover slabs along the stretch from Mamala to Irumpanam Bridge, and the setting up of a pedestrian sidewalk or service road on the western side between Karingachira and Puthiya Road Junction. Download the TOI App.
To address ongoing utility work, a joint team from NHAI, Kerala Water Authority, and local representatives will conduct a site inspection along Vayalilpadam Road to Thiruvankulam Junction on Thursday to coordinate pipeline installation without delaying road improvements.