more-in Though the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has given the nod for installing solar-powered traffic signals at Eenchakkal Junction, road users and road safety experts are of the view that an overpass at the busy junction is needed for smooth movement along the National Highway 66 bypass corridor. The urgency for an overpass has been felt with the NHAI removing the roundabout at Enchakkal Junction for the four-laning of Reach I of the NH 66 bypass corridor from Kazhakuttam to Mukkola. Utter confusion prevails at the busy junction that is also a gateway to the T-II terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The overpass was shelved by the NHAI citing shortage of funds for the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) project that is in the final stages and it was decided to have an ‘At-grade junction’. Project officials say installing solar-powered traffic signals is not a lasting solution as the corridor has high volume of traffic and movement of goods vehicles coming from the Chala market and Tamil Nadu. All classes of motor vehicles coming from West Fort, Kovalam, Vallakadavu, and Chakka through the four-lane bypass will have to negotiate with the vehicles criss-crossing Enchakkal Junction. Piling of motor vehicles along the Enchakkal-West Fort corridor will continue even if a traffic signal is installed at the bypass junction as Keltron has recommended a second signal near the mouth of the Enchakkal-Attakulangara CRIP corridor to ensure free movement of vehicles to Attakulangara. The second traffic signal will restrict the movement of vehicles coming from the nAttakulangara CRIP corridor and the Pettah-Enchakkal road to the West Fort-Enchakkal corridor. NHAI officials say permission has been given to Keltron to install the second traffic signal. New establishments More business and commercial establishments coming up near Eenchakkal Junction and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s (KSRTC) plan to set up a bus terminal for long-distance buses in the four-acre plot owned near the junction will aggravate the situation, say road safety and highway engineering experts. The use of the land belonging to Kerala Water Authority (KWA) near the junction for exit of the motor vehicles coming via the four-lane bypass through the service road to Attakulangara has been mooted. But, NHAI officials say it is for the State to take a call as land acquisition is involved. The proposed overpass with 5.5-m vertical clearance as per Indian Road Congress (IRC) specifications is the lasting solution as heavy vehicles and Arat procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple can proceed to Vallakkadavu on the way to the Shanghumughom beach. Traffic will also not be held up on the approach roads and at the junction.

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