Demand for new underpass at Vyttila gains momentum.

The demand for a wide, alternative underpass beneath the Vyttila Bridge to decongest service roads leading to the junction has gained momentum, with massive traffic snarls being experienced on the Ponnurunni Bridge-NH Bypass Underpass-Vyttila Junction corridor.

The number of vehicles using the existing narrow underpass has increased manifold after the recent closure of two intersections at the junction and the opening of a hypermarket on the eastern service road on Saturday.

“The maddening traffic chaos on the stretch can be lessened if the service road is extended northward, where there is ample space to construct a new, wide underpass,” said Shine P.S. who represents Vyttila division in the Kochi Corporation.

He raised the issue in the Corporation Council a week ago and assured all help to stakeholders such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the traffic police in developing the new underpass so that each could be made one way for vehicles. “I also submitted a proposal to the traffic police to take up with the NHAI and other departments the need for a new underpass and to confine parking to one side of the road. Currently, pedestrians have to risk their life and use the narrow underpass which is used by motorists in both directions.”

“The situation will turn even worse once the Palarivattom flyover is opened and many more vehicles converge at Vyttila. The delay in opening the Eroor overbridge has further added to the chaos since motorists from Kaniampuzha Road take the RSAC Road and converge at the underpass,” Mr. Shine said.

Kochi project director of the NHAI, Chandrasekhar Reddy, said the busy junction needed a wide underpass and service roads free of encroachers and haphazardly-parked vehicles.

“The new underpass can be developed if the District Collector acquires land for extending the service roads and hands it over to us. The drains too will have to be extended,” he said.

THE HINDU