The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) has decided to redevelop nine major junctions on Thripunithura SN Junction-Poothotta road as part of the project to widen the 13.40-km stretch into a four-lane corridor having 22-m width.
The decision has in turn prompted a revision of the detailed project report (DPR) on widening the busy corridor that links Ernakulam with Kottayam through Vaikom. The contract to hold additional study, including to lay survey stones, has been tendered. The junctions would be redeveloped, in keeping with the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) norms that emphasized ensuring a smooth and seamless flow of vehicles through junctions, sources said.
The junctions that will be developed include the busy SN Junction, East Fort Junction, Puthiyakavu, and Udayamperoor. The revised DPR, after taking into account the development needs of the nine junctions, will be ready by April. This will be followed by the laying of survey stones, followed by the land acquisition process. Land acquisition in the corridor had been halted since the social impact assessment (SIA) and other mandatory processes ought to be adhered to while acquiring land.
