₹1.50 cr. to redevelop bottlenecked Vyttila Junction

The long-overdue project to redevelop the bottlenecked Vyttila Junction is expected to be implemented in April-May, with road safety funds worth ₹1.50 crore to be handed over to the Public Works department (PWD) (NH wing), it is learnt.

This comes amid continuing traffic snarls and chaos at the junction, even after the PWD constructed a six-lane flyover in 2021, PWD sources said.

The allotment of funds follows an order issued by Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Alexander Thomas, who had taken suo motu action based on newspaper reports on the plight of commuters and pedestrians at Vyttila, said to be the busiest junction in Kerala.

Subsequently, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) (which owns the Edappally-Vyttila-Aroor NH Bypass) informed the commission in March that it would adhere to all directives in the order to decongest Vyttila Junction. It also agreed to convene a joint meeting with the PWD and assured that expert advice from the Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer (RTO) and the District Police Chief (Kochi City) would be sought, if needed. Further, the SHRC has directed officials of the PWD, NHAI, Local Self-Government department, Kochi Corporation, and the MVD to appear on May 19 at its sitting at the PWD Rest House, Pathadipalam.

Welcoming the handover of ₹1.50 crore in road safety funds to the PWD for the short-term redevelopment of the junction, Mayor V.K. Minimol said she hoped the funds would be used to make optimal use of the space available. She added that this would be executed in sync with the Kochi Corporation’s proposal to implement Kerala’s first Local Area Development Plan (LAP) at Vyttila, based on the concept of transit-oriented development (TOD).

The major components of the LAP initiative, which will cover a 500-metre radius around Vyttila Junction, include its redevelopment, beautification of the flyover, development of the Vyttila North bus stand, street-edge improvements, and Phase II development of the underutilised Vyttila Mobility Hub, which is spread over 25 acres.

Seeking the fast-tracking of steps to streamline traffic flow at the junction, Thampy V.R., chairman of Vyttila United Forum, an NGO that conducted a traffic pattern study in and around Vyttila, said he hoped that, apart from other redevelopment works, the PWD would chip off over 1 metre from approximately 100-metre-long stretches of the median beneath the flyover to create adequate space for vehicles and pedestrians. “In addition, all free left turns, especially on the eastern side, must be widened, since buses are finding it extremely tough to turn from the NH Bypass towards the Vyttila Mobility Hub and back.”

He said care must also be taken to seek expert opinion from NATPAC, which has a regional office in the city. He added that the District Road Safety Council, headed by the District Collector, must ensure coordination among the agencies that will execute the redevelopment of Vyttila Junction.