A 40-year-dream nears completion

  • | Wednesday | 16th January, 2019

However, delay on the state government’s part to allot funds and protest by residents delayed the construction work. In 2008, Alappuzha bypass was included in National Highway Authority of India’s project (NHAI) to convert NH-66 into a four-lane road from Cherthala to Oachira.In 2010, Centre announced that the bypass project would be completed as a special project. ALAPPUZHA: The bypass project in the district was conceived 40 years ago and with the opening of the new bypass, commuters along the NH-66 – heading for Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi – can go their way skipping Alappuzha town.The revenue department acquired land for the bypass in 1980, the width was decided to be 45m. The total cost of the bypass project was pegged at Rs 348 crore in 2015, which was then equally shared by state and central governments.The bypass was set to be completed in September 2017. Of the 6.8km bypass, 3.2km is an elevated highway alongside the beach.

ALAPPUZHA: The bypass project in the district was conceived 40 years ago and with the opening of the new bypass, commuters along the NH-66 – heading for Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi – can go their way skipping Alappuzha town.The revenue department acquired land for the bypass in 1980, the width was decided to be 45m. In 2008, Alappuzha bypass was included in National Highway Authority of India’s project (NHAI) to convert NH-66 into a four-lane road from Cherthala to Oachira.In 2010, Centre announced that the bypass project would be completed as a special project. The Centre also gave an in-principal approval for completing the bypass project worth Rs 157 crore.On April 10, 2015, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the long-pending construction works of the bypass from Kommadi to Kalarkode. Of the 6.8km bypass, 3.2km is an elevated highway alongside the beach. The total cost of the bypass project was pegged at Rs 348 crore in 2015, which was then equally shared by state and central governments.The bypass was set to be completed in September 2017. However, delay on the state government’s part to allot funds and protest by residents delayed the construction work. The deadline was initially extended to May 28, 2018 and it was pushed back to August 31, 2018 following delay on the part of railways to approve the construction of two rail overbridges (ROBs) as part of the project.On December 19, 2018, the commissioner of railway safety gave its nod to build ROBs and work construction work resumed. The deadline for completing the bypass is May,2019.

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