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Amid festive rush, flyover delay causes traffic woes
Amid festive rush, flyover delay causes traffic woes

Time of India

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Time of India

Amid festive rush, flyover delay causes traffic woes

T'puram: Despite the formal launch of the flyover at the busy Venjaramoodu Junction earlier this year, actual construction is yet to commence due to opposition from local traders. As the Onam season approaches, traffic congestion at the junction has worsened, with long queues of vehicles forming during peak hours, causing severe inconvenience to daily commuters. The flyover project, aimed at decongesting the junction that connects key routes to Nedumangad, Varkala and MC Road, is seen as a crucial infrastructure upgrade for the region. However, local traders have raised concerns about the timing of the construction. They recently submitted a memorandum to Vamanapuram MLA D K Murali, requesting a postponement of the piling and excavation work until after Onam, citing the potential disruption to their seasonal business. Speaking to TOI, Murali confirmed the delay. "We understand the concerns of the traders during the festival season. The piling work for the flyover will begin only after Onam. In the meantime, utility shifting has already started, including the removal of electric poles and overhead cables," he said. KSEB began preliminary utility shifting, which is being handled by Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), the main contractor for the flyover project. The utility work is being closely monitored to ensure smooth execution without major disruptions. While the decision to delay construction may bring relief to traders, daily commuters are bearing the brunt of the congestion. "It's frustrating to sit in traffic for 30 to 45 minutes every morning. We understand Onam is important for businesses, but this junction has become a nightmare for commuters," said Ramesh Kumar T, a private firm employee who commutes daily from Kilimanoor to the city. Residents and commuters have urged the authorities to expedite the flyover construction post-Onam and provide temporary traffic solutions until then. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.

6 months on, no work in sight at Venjaramoodu flyover site
6 months on, no work in sight at Venjaramoodu flyover site

Time of India

time13-06-2025

  • General
  • Time of India

6 months on, no work in sight at Venjaramoodu flyover site

T'puram: Six months after inauguration of the construction of Venjaramoodu flyover, not a single brick was laid. The project, envisioned to ease congestion at one of the busiest junctions on the MC Road, was caught in a tangle of bureaucratic delays, primarily due to the failure to shift overhead electric lines and remove power poles from the proposed construction site. As a result, daily commuters, pedestrians and local business owners are bearing the brunt of mounting traffic bottlenecks and prolonged uncertainty. The flyover project, awarded to Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), was seen as a vital infrastructure upgrade for the region. But since the formal inauguration, the ground reality remains unchanged. "The delay in relocating electric cables underground and removing electric posts stalled the actual commencement of construction," confirmed a senior PWD official. "We cannot proceed with piling or excavation until KSEB completes the necessary utility shifting. The coordination has taken longer than expected," the official added. The flyover was expected to be a game-changer for traffic movement between Thiruvananthapuram and Kottarakkara. Vehicles pile up during peak hours, especially at the congested four-way intersection, leading to frequent gridlocks and safety concerns. Locals and daily commuters are growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of visible progress. "Every day it's the same chaos," said Sunitha Raj, a schoolteacher who commutes from Kilimanoor to Venjaramoodu. "They held an inauguration with great fanfare. Now it is just barricades and dust," she added. Meanwhile, Vamanapuram MLA D K Murali, under whose constituency the project falls, told TOI that the delays were unfortunate but assured the public that the issue is being addressed. "This is a critical project for Venjaramoodu and the surrounding areas. I have taken up the matter with both PWD and KSEB. We hope to resume the construction works by next month and the utility works will be completed within two weeks," he said. He also added that the KSEB has to call a tender for the utility shifting works. According to sources, the initial utility relocation proposal was caught in a back-and-forth between the PWD and KSEB regarding funding and clearances. Though officials insist that coordination meetings have been held, no clear timeline for commencement has been announced. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .

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