More underpasses sought in densely populated areas in Edappally-Muthakunnam NH 66 hall

Spearheading the demand for extra underpasses and the necessity to adhere to the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) norms to make sure the security of each motorists and street customers, the Kottuvally grama panchayat has launched into an agitation. A relay ‘satyagraha’ has begun close to the Koonammavu Market as a part of the agitation.

There are a number of different locations in Kerala the place a dozen instructional establishments are situated inside a 250-metre NH stretch, mentioned Justin Elanjikal, who’s among the many residents of the realm. “The extraordinarily slender service roads make issues worse. A sole underpass that’s situated just a little away can not cater for tens of lots of of automobiles and pedestrians crossing over to the opposite aspect of NH 66,” he added.

This many instructional establishments situated inside a restricted stretch is other than tuition centres, innumerable locations of worship, hospitals, banks, retailers, a market, container yards, godowns, and an Akshaya centre which might be situated on both aspect of the freeway. The inflow of automobiles into the freeway will improve when Chemmayam bridge, for which ₹19 crore was allotted, is constructed. In this example, it could be robust for automobiles and pedestrians within the densely populated space to concurrently use the slender 5.70-m large service street and a sole slender underpass with insufficient vertical clearance. Heavy automobiles and container lorries wouldn’t be capable of go by way of the service roads and the underpass. The internet outcome could be that they might all converge at Chithira Junction, just a little distance away, inflicting perennial visitors snarls. This would in flip impede the secure and regular circulation of automobiles by way of NH 66, mentioned the Biju Pazhampilly, the Convenor of the Samara Samiti.

The Samiti has additionally taken exception to retention partitions of the NH being situated at a top of as much as 22 ft, blocking free circulation of air. This and the potential congestion might have been prevented if an elevated NH had been constructed by way of the realm, contemplating the situation of this many instructional and different establishments. Traders too could be affected sooner or later of time. All that is other than the hazard because of the likelihood of homes and different buildings on both aspect getting flooded throughout rain, attributable to ‘non-adherence’ with IRC norms, say the agitators.

Parishes from the area had held agitations, demanding a brand new pair of underpasses at Pallikadavu Road and at Chemmayam Road.

The NHAI had in August 2024 set June 2025 because the deadline to finish the six-laning of the Edapally-Muthakunnam NH 66 hall. Sources within the company mentioned that they’ve constructed or have been within the strategy of establishing enough variety of car and pedestrian underpasses on the stretch, based mostly on visitors necessities.