Five foot overbridges to come up along national highway

Thiruvananthapuram: Works began for the construction of the first foot-overbridge (FOB) across the Kazhakoottam-Mukkola national highway stretch. The first of the five approved FOBs is coming up near MGM Public School, Kuzhivila.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and contractor KNR Constructions have begun erecting a steel structure as part of the works of the bridge. Unlike the recently inaugurated FOBs in the city, those to be constructed across the national highway will be 45-metre-long.

Sources in NH wing said that each FOB has a cost ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 90 lakh. The average height will be around 5.5 metres.

After considering the difficulty to cross the 45-metre-wide national highway, NHAI decided to introduce FOBs in five locations. Apart from Kuzhivila, FOBs will come up at Cordova Public School Junction, Ambalathara; Thiruvallam Junction; Azhakulam-Chirayil Road and SFS Central School Junction, Venganoor. All these locations were identified considering the number of pedestrians, including schoolchildren.

As the number of accidents in NH stretch was increasing, the NHAI in 2015 had given permission to regional officers to give consent for construction of FOBs in required locations. Sources in NHAI said that the department is ready to provide more FOBs if demand arises in specific locations. Currently, NHAI has submitted proposals to construct additional FOBs in two other areas, including near Infosys. The proposals are awaiting official approval.

An FOB has been constructed at Vazhutacaud. Construction of another FOB is progressing at Pattom.

Though NHAI is constructing FOBs, lack of footpaths is a major setback as far as pedestrian safety is considered.

Lack of street lights is another concern. The city corporation is planning to take up works to install street lights across the stretch.