No sign of proposed bypass in Angamaly

Though viewed as a panacea for the traffic woes, the proposed bypass in Angamaly may not become a reality in the near future, thanks to the delay in submitting the detailed project report (DPR).

 KITCO Ltd is preparing the report as entrusted by the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation. The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting  convened by Works Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju in April last year. It is learnt that the bypass will be from Angadikkadavu railway level-cross parallel to the existing railway lines to TELK premises, near the private bus stand. Earlier, the Public Works Department (PWD) decided to construct the Angamaly bypass on public private partnership (PPP) mode. Roads and Bridges Development Corporation was entrusted with the task of preparing an alignment and supervising the procedures associated with the construction.

Angamaly Municipal chairman C K Varghese said  the bypass project is crucial to a fast developing place like Angamaly.

“Since MC Road and NH-47 meet at Angamaly it is high time the traffic menace was resolved. In the initial study, it was found that land acquisition was going to be a key issue in realising the project. Now a consensus has been reached among residents to welcome the move,” he said.

But Roads and Bridges Development Corporation Managing Director Mohammed Hanish hinted that the project would be delayed.

“We are yet to receive the project report. Without the report nothing can be done,” he said.

Paul Varghese, president, Angamaly Merchants Association, said since Ernakulam District starts with Angamaly where the traffic problem is escalating by the day, an alternative arrangement like bypass is necessary.

“Since Angamaly is a major hub for so many rural areas, the traffic congestion is a big problem here. Vehicles from Kottayam and Ernakulam regions converge at Angamaly causing congestion. The only remedy at hand is constructing a bypass. At this rate, the number of vehicles in the region will increase by at least 60 per cent in five years’ time. The place should have been included in the master plan of Ernakulam city,” he said.