Kerala - Alappuzha   

Demand to revive work on Alappuzha bypass

ALAPPUZHA: The Alappuzha Bypass, construction of which began nearly two decades ago, is once again in the news. An action council has been proposed to spearhead an agitation against the State and Union governments to revive work on the bypass.

The bypass, for which land was acquired 30 years ago, is from Kommadi on the north of Alappuzha town to Kalarkode in the south. Only the 3.73 km-long first phase of the 7.58-km two-lane bypass has been completed. This itself took nearly 18 years. The remaining 3.85 km, including 1.1 km alongside the Alappuzha beach, has been lying in a state of uncertainty for several years now.

One of the major obstacles in the path of the bypass was the proposal to extend the Aroor-Cherthala four-lane highway via Alappuzha.

This gave rise to fears of the Alappuzha beach being shrunk, forcing local authorities to propose a flyover alongside the beach so that the bypass would not put the popular tourist spot in danger.

However, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Union Government are yet to give their nod to the flyover proposal. Though NHAI chief general manager Ashok Wasson, during an inspection of the site in May this year, said the pending Rail-Over-Bridges (ROB) at the ESI Junction and the Bapu Vaidyar Junction would be approved by the Authority, he could not give any assurance on the flyover.

With no notable progress on the issue, local authorities have decided to form an action council, which, they say, would cut across political lines to pressure the State and Union governments to expedite work on the bypass, which is expected to ease traffic movement in Alappuzha town.

Municipal chairman P.P. Chittaranjan, who believes that a strong public agitation could solve the issue, says the municipality does not want to sacrifice the beach for the four-lane highway. “That is why we are stressing on the flyover. But the Union Government is non-committal on this.”

A meeting to discuss the setting up of an action council to head the agitation will be convened at the Municipal Council Hall at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

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