The commissioning of the two flyovers at Thondayad and Ramanattukara on the Kozhikode Bypass this month will be delayed owing to the recent flood situation in the district.
“Possibly, we can open the flyovers to the public next month or so. The contractors have sought more time for completion. One of the reasons they cite is the flooding that prevented them from carrying out construction works,” T.S. Sindhu, Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (Roads Division), told The Hindu on Wednesday.
The flyovers at Thondayad and Ramanattukara junctions on the 28.14-km stretch are being constructed under the District Flagship Infrastructure Project (DFIP) by the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), on an 18-month contract. As of now, 90% of the works, which started in February 2016, have been completed. Besides, a second bridge has been constructed parallel to the existing bridge at Neelithodu, near Ramanattukara.
The flyovers, which are being constructed to decongest the Kozhikode Bypass (National Highway 66) from Vengalam to Idimuzhikkal, were initially scheduled to be opened in May.
But it was postponed to June and then September and now further deferred due to technical reasons, apart from the relocation of Kerala State Electricity Board’s power lines and the laying of Kerala Water Authority’s pipes.
The funds for the projects, ₹143 crore, has been sourced from the Kerala Road Fund Board. An amount of ₹89 crore has been allotted for the construction of the 420-metre flyover at Ramanattukara and ₹54 crore for the 480-metre flyover at Thondayad.