New consultant to be chosen for three city flyover projects

Thiruvananthapuram: A year after Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) stepped down as the interim consultant for

Light Metro

project, state government has given permission to Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd (KRTL) to invite a tender for the appointment of a technical consultant and execute construction of three flyovers in city.

KRTL has to build flyovers at Sreekaryam, Ulloor and Pattom as preparatory works for the Light Metro project. At present, the projects are at various stages of land acquisition.

DMRC had prepared a general assessment, rough cost estimate and land acquisition plans for the flyovers during its term as interim consultant. After waiting for over a year to be appointed as turnkey consultant, DMRC exited the project last year.

Recently government gave permission to KRTL to engage a technical consultant for the project to prepare detailed engineering drawing and tender documents to select an agency for construction. KRTL took steps to invite a tender for the technical consultant and the appointment will be finalized by July end.

Rajagiri Outreach, which is conducting social impact assessment (SIA) of Pattom flyover, has almost finished the task and a public hearing will be held by July end. Similarly, SIA prepared for Ulloor flyover is being reviewed by an expert committee. SIA study and expert review were completed for Sreekaryam. Now, revenue department is preparing a survey of the land for acquisition.

The flyovers were envisaged for the smooth flow of traffic along the Light Metro route. In places such as Sreekaryam, the flyover is expected to clear bottleneck at the junction.

Sreekaryam flyover, which is 535m long, will start near Union Bank on Chavadimukku side and ends before Kallampally Junction. The 441m Ulloor flyover will start near corporation guest house near the medical college and end near petrol pump at Kochulloor.

Pattom flyover will have a length of 1,008m and is expected to bypass both Pattom and Plamoodu junctions. The fourth flyover – proposed at Thampanoor – is almost shelved. The project is put on hold over feasibility.

Meanwhile, a supplement to the DPR prepared by DMRC for Light Metro project is yet to be forwarded to the Union ministry of urban affairs. KRTL board, which will meet this month, is expected to take a decision on the report.