In Kerala, widening of the Edappally-Aroor NH Bypass into six lane and subsequent development of the four major junctions in the stretch hold the key to smoothening traffic flow along the stretch.

While flyovers at Edappally, Palarivattom, Vyttila and Kundanoor appear inevitable to decongest the junctions on NH 47 Bypass, they would take a couple of years to materialise. The fear is also rife that the toll along the stretch will be hiked manifold if the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) constructs the flyovers.

It is here that widening the congested bypass ? jam-packed with vehicles and pedestrians, gains relevance. The daily passenger car unit (PCU) in each direction along the stretch exceeded 55,000 in 2012. There is a noticeable increase in the speed of vehicles at six-lane portions of the Vyttila-Aroor NH Bypass, as compared to the four-lane ones.

The NHAI?s Kochi Project Director CT Abraham said land was available on the 16-km-long Edappally-Aroor stretch to widen it into six lane. ?Unused land on the side of service roads can be added to the width of the bypass.

On widening the four congested junctions in the stretch, Abraham said it could be done provided the State government acquired land and handed it over to the NHAI.