Pipeline hurdle cleared, Sreekaryam flyover work to resume

Thiruvananthapuram: The construction of Sreekaryam flyover, one of the most crucial preparatory infrastructure projects for the proposed Thiruvananthapuram Metro Rail project, is set to regain momentum with the completion of pipeline testing by Kerala Water Authority (KWA).

This ends months of delays caused by utility works.The pipeline testing, which was completed on Wednesday, clears one of the biggest bottlenecks that stalled progress on the Rs 177-crore project being executed by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL). Tarring of the service road on one side of the flyover corridor is expected to begin shortly, paving the way for the next phase of construction.The project was slowed for several months due to a standoff between KMRL and KWA over the laying and commissioning of a major pipeline.

KMRL repeatedly sought the early handover of completed stretches, arguing that prolonged delays would affect the overall construction schedule, particularly ahead of the monsoon.However, another challenge continues to hold up work on the service road. The presence of a statue of Sree Narayana Guru and associated utility structures has prevented completion of the remaining pipeline work and road construction.

KMRL has requested the district administration to expedite the relocation of the statue so that construction can proceed without further interruptions. The land acquisition in this area was completed earlier.“We can now immediately move ahead with tarring the service road on one side. Once the remaining obstructions, including the statue relocation, are cleared, work can progress simultaneously on both sides, and we will be able to begin piling for the main flyover at the earliest,” an official associated with the project said.The 535m-long four-lane flyover has been engineered to accommodate Metro rail pillars along its median once the proposed Thiruvananthapuram Metro project receives final approval. The project includes 17 spans, 5.5m-wide service roads on either side, footpaths and modern stormwater drainage infrastructure. Nearly 90% of the drainage work and utility duct construction has already been completed.Land acquisition for the project was completed last year after acquiring 1.34 hectares from 168 property owners in Cheruvakkal, Ulloor and Pangappara villages, with around Rs 98 crore paid as compensation. Sreekaryam flyover is the first among three Metro-linked flyovers planned at Sreekaryam, Ulloor and Pattom to decongest some of the state capital’s busiest junctions while laying the foundation for the proposed Metro rail network.