Kochi: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has frozen the proposed 14.64-kilometre six-lane elevated highway project connecting Edappally and Aroor. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari clarified the matter in the Lok Sabha in response to a question raised by Hibi Eden MP.

The Union Minister stated that new projects will only be considered after completing the construction works currently underway in the state. The Edappally–Aroor stretch of the national highway experiences severe traffic congestion.

While it was expected that the proposed six-lane elevated highway would resolve this issue, the Centre has now confirmed that the project has been put on hold. In its place, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to expedite the Angamaly–Aroor bypass project to alleviate heavy traffic congestion along the Angamaly–Edappally–Kundannoor route.

The main cause of traffic bottlenecks at Edappally is that the six-lane highway stretching from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram narrows down to four lanes at this junction. Land acquisition in this area, where NH 66, the Coastal Highway and NH 544 converge, was virtually impossible due to major shopping malls and apartment complexes on both sides.

This led to the proposal for an elevated highway. However, the project hit a roadblock when the agency tasked with preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) withdrew midway and Kochi Metro rail lines at Palarivattom and Vyttila posed physical obstructions.

Meanwhile, the Centre has approved the 49.5-kilometre, eight-lane Angamaly–Aroor Greenfield Bypass project, which includes port connectivity. Starting from Angamaly and bypassing major urban centres, this new highway will link directly to the Aroor–Thuravoor elevated highway. The Union Minister informed that the preparation of its DPR is underway and the 3A notification for land acquisition will be re-issued in August.