Delay in appointing consultant holds up Peroorkada flyover project

T’puram: The construction of much-awaited Peroorkada flyover is yet to begin despite the project being awarded in March this year, with the delay now being attributed to the pending appointment of a project consultant by the govt.The contract for constructing the flyover was awarded to Cherian Varkey Construction Company earlier this year after the tender process was completed. However, nearly four months later, no physical work has commenced at the site, raising concerns among commuters who have been expecting relief from chronic traffic congestion at the busy Peroorkada Junction.According to officials at the construction company, the contractor is awaiting the govt’s appointment of the project consultant, whose technical supervision and approval are mandatory before construction activities can begin.“Once the consultant is appointed, we will be able to mobilize all the required resources, including manpower and machinery and begin construction without delay,” a senior official said.Sources associated with the project said the construction tender had been finalized during the previous govt’s tenure. However, following the change in govt, the process of appointing the consultant has remained pending, resulting in a delay of nearly four months.

Officials expect the appointment to be made soon, after which the project is expected to gather momentum.Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK) is implementing the KIIFB-funded project, which is aimed at decongesting one of the busiest traffic intersections in city. The proposed two-lane flyover, measuring around 874m, will connect Lourdes Church at Peroorkada with St Jude’s Church at Vazhayila.The flyover project has witnessed several delays over the years owing to land acquisition, design modifications and statutory clearances. An earlier proposal to construct an underpass was abandoned after technical studies found that major Kerala Water Authority transmission pipelines beneath the junction made such a project impractical. The govt subsequently approved the flyover as the most feasible solution.Residents and daily commuters hope the remaining procedural formalities will be completed at the earliest so that work can finally begin.