Inevitably Kochi needs flyovers not metro rail

Finally, the much awaited and acclaimed metro rail project is on the track after having the whole project got into the web of controversies and political deadlock. As far as the traffic woes are concerned in the city, the immediate requirement of Kochi is flyovers not metro rail project. The four traffic junctions at Edappally, Pipeline Vyttila and Kudannoor alone burn approximately 10khs rupees worth fuel due to the traffic gridlock every day, an expert study reported. Metro rail can only give a posh look to the city and get Kochi a place in the map of metro cities of India. 

The only corridor to enter into as well as to exist from the Kochi city is the bypass segment of NH 47 as the flipside of the city is costal area. So, in order to enter into the city, the vehicles need to pass through the NH 47 at Edapally for the vehicles coming from Aluva side; at Pipeline for the vehicles coming from Kakkanadu; at Vyttila for the vehicles coming from Pala, Kottayam and Vaikom and at Kudannoor for the vehicles coming from Alappuzha side. As the city has outgrown to the bypass which led bypass a heavy suburban traffic. 

Kerala is ought to learn from its neighboring states in terms of infrastructural developments. The number of flyovers and subways are built in the past one decade in our neighboring states; Tamil Nadu and Karanataka are remarkable. If a flyover is built from Edapally junction and ending at Kudannoor, which would be of 15kms length, (like in Bangalore, from Madivala to Electornicity), will easily bypass the entire vehicles that is passing through bypass segment of NH 47 from Edapally in the north to Aroor in Alappuzha district. This would not create block for the vehicles that enter as well as exist the city from all the four traffic junctions at Edappally, Pipeline Vyttila and Kudannoor.    

Employees in 50km radius of Kochi are commuting to city on daily basis and the total number of commuters who cross the bypass into enter into the city would be one lakh. Though Infopak, which is a main job hub, is remote from the city, there are employees who cross the bypass to go to the park from within the city. The metro project hyped as the immediate remedy for the traffic woes would not operate in more than 15km radius in the city. 

Kerela lacks political will and politician who can take bold steps for the holistic development beyond their petty needs. The much awaited and acclaimed Metro Project is expected to be completed in 2016 and upon completion there would not be any solution for the traffic woes. Why the whole concentration is given to metro project alone? Is it the only area where politicians can swindle away maximum money and commission from than compared to flyover constructions? To care to the traffic facilities of Kochi, better known as the economical capital of the state, along with the metro project simultaneously works of flyovers should commence.