Bypass project will spur economic growth, says expert

Link roads between NH Bypass and proposed bypass will augment connectivity, says B.G. Sreedevi

Chief Scientist at the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) B.G. Sreedevi, who also heads the agency’s highway engineering and water transport wing, favours the construction of a new NH corridor linking Angamaly and Kundannur.

National highways in Kerala are crammed with too many private and commercial vehicles. Constructing flyovers at busy junctions alone is not enough. The Edappally-Aroor NH Bypass has a few dozen automobile dealerships, convention centres, and a few hundred shops and other commercial establishments which are fast relocating to the corridor from other parts of the city, she said.

New or elevated corridor

The worsening congestion on the bypass calls for an alternative NH Bypass as mooted by the NHAI or building of an elevated corridor which will cater for around 40% of traffic on the 16-km stretch.

While hewing out a new bypass will decongest the stretch, it will also open up economic opportunities in the eastern suburbs of the city through which it passes. Link roads between the NH Bypass and the proposed bypass will further augment connectivity and boost local economy, observed Ms. Sreedevi.

Cost factor

Elaborating on the cost, she said constructing a kilometre of a six-lane NH alone would cost approximately ₹10 crore per km, excluding cost of land acquisition and structures like bridges. A four-lane elevated corridor will cost approximately ₹100 crore per km, while land acquisition will be limited to junctions where ramps lead to the NH below, she said.

According to the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) norms, a four-lane NH corridor must be widened to six lane if over 40,000 PCUs use it daily and eight-laned when the figure crosses the 60,000-PCU mark.

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