Flyover works: Traffic curbs to be introduced

T’puram: With the construction of the 2.7km Kazhakkoottam flyover about to begin, police are making elaborate plans for traffic diversion, which they will finalize soon.
The contractor of the work Rameshwar Dayal & Son-Cherian Varkey Construction Company (RDS-CVCC) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have started clearing temporary structures. But, to clear the permanent structures the land should get demarcated first.
NHAI has asked the revenue department to complete demarcation of the area before clearing the site for traffic diversion. Revenue officials are expected to hold an inspection in a couple of days. NHAI is clearing encroachments from the area as part of introducing traffic diversion in Kazhakoottam-Attinkuzhy stretch.
The police have asked NHAI to clear encroachments, install warning boards and deploy traffic wardens to ensure smooth movement of traffic along the service road, before blocking the NH for construction works. Sources said that the warning boards, reflective signs etc have been placed in the service roads and other nearby roads.
Police commissioner K Sanjay Kumar Gurudin said that the service road, nearby roads and junctions, where vehicles would be diverted, were getting renovated. “Obstructions in these roads are being removed and parking will be strictly prohibited,” he said.
We are prepared from police side, but the service roads are presently not in usable condition as in last two days’ rains, it was completely water logged. If it is not corrected there will be huge traffic congestion. We have called NHAI officials to discuss this issue. We will be giving huge publicity about diversions and have taken account all possible traffic movements and we shall ensure minimum inconvenience to the commuters,” added Gurudin.
Meanwhile, the NHAI has started cutting down of around 100 trees in the 2.7km stretch from Kazhakkoottam police station to Attinkuzhy. Sources said that money would be paid to the social forestry department for compensatory planting. “Around Rs 97 lakh has already been paid for compensatory planting for felling trees,” sources said.
Kazhakkoottam flyover has been planned as a standalone project to prevent local traffic in Kazhakkoottam from affecting the traffic along the NH. As per the design, the traffic in the national highway will move along the flyover while the local traffic could take the road underneath.