Edappally ROB: NHAI gets nod for work over rail line

Kochi: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has received railway nod for commencing central portion works of the new three-lane Edappally railway overbridge (ROB), as it aims to open the key facility to traffic by June end."Central portion works include placement of deck slab over railway lines, as soon as railways enforce traffic regulation to facilitate the work," said a senior NHAI official.While prefabricated deck slab can be placed in three days, remaining works, including construction of a pillar and approach roads on both sides would be completed in two months. "Existing two-way ROB will continue to be used," the official added.Railway officials conducted a site inspection on Thursday and are expected to convey the period of work to NHAI after formulating a traffic regulation plan. To minimize disruption to the busy rail corridor, construction will primarily take place at night.The new Edappally ROB will have a length of 607m and a width of 15m. It will have 25 spans, including 11 spans of 21.6m, 3 spans of 30m and a railway span of 63.48m with a bowstring girder, main highlight of the structure.Earlier, the span with bowstring girder was prefabricated in New Delhi and transported to Kochi, before assembling the same. Engineers will now "launch" the deck slab, sliding it over tracks to connect both sides of the highway.Preliminary construction works of ROB began on March 18, 2023, and the delay was on account of pending railway nod.Edappally ROB is a key part of NH-66 road widening activities in the 26.3-km Edappally-Moothakunnam stretch. Besides the ROB, the stretch will have eight major bridges, 18 vehicle underpasses, 8 minor bridges and four flyovers.