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Financial sanction worth ₹93.89 crore has been granted for acquiring land for the Thammanam-Pulleppady Road, Minister for Public Works P.K. Basheer has said.
The project has already received administrative sanction of ₹100 crore, he said in response to a submission moved by Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod. The project is currently at the stage of publishing notification for land acquisition, the Minister said.
Mr. Basheer added that a detailed project report (DPR) was being prepared for the proposed 49.50-km Ernakulam Bypass connecting Angamaly and Aroor along the national highway. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is taking necessary steps in this regard. The estimated cost of the project is ₹13,553.5 crore, including ₹6,183.4 crore for land acquisition and ₹6,551.1 crore for construction. The bypass is expected to ease traffic congestion on the Aluva Bypass.
Traffic studies conducted by the NHAI indicate that a majority of vehicles are likely to use the new Ernakulam Bypass once it becomes operational, thereby significantly reducing congestion on the Angamaly-Edappally stretch of NH-544. The alignment of the bypass has already been approved by the government. Mr. Basheer said he would discuss the project with the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways on July 7.
He further said that land acquisition could be initiated as soon as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways approves the DPR. He was responding to a submission moved by Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath in the Assembly.
The existing NH-544 stretch from Angamaly to Edappally is a four-lane road with a width of 25-30 metres. Further widening of the stretch is not possible due to urbanisation on both sides. The narrowness of the Marthandavarma Bridge along the route also contributes to traffic congestion. Mr. Basheer clarified that neither the government nor the NHAI had any proposal to construct a bridge or an elevated highway parallel to the Marthandavarma Bridge.
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