Thiruvananthapuram:
The Thakaraparambu Flyover Project, which was reportedly shelved, is finally showing signs of a comeback. The second flyover planned under the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP) after the Bakery Junction Flyover was stuck over the issue of rehabilitation of traders on the Power House Road.
Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty's clearance for the TRIDA project in Attakulangara has opened the way for the rehabilitation of the traders.
The project to construct a bus stand and shopping complex at Attakulangara got the go-ahead at a high-level meeting convened by the Industries Minister on Thursday. The traders will be permanently shifted to the shopping complex on the compound of Government Central High School, Attakulangara. Transport Minister V S Sivakumar will hold talks with the representatives of traders on Saturday.
"The Minister has called a meeting on Saturday. It is learnt that a temporary arrangement will be made on the Power House road. We are ready to agree if a permanent place is allotted for rehabilitation," said Ravikumar, one of the traders.
The TRIDA project is a double bonanza as it opens the way for the construction of the flyover and also brings a makeover to East Fort. The existing bus terminal at East Fort will be shifted to the five-and-half-acre compound of the school. The school will be relocated to one-and-a-half acres and will be renovated to accommodate more students.
The plan is conceived in such a way that it would ease the traffic congestion at the busy East Fort. TRIDA officials said that it would take around 12 months to complete the works.
Thakaraparambu Flyover is part of the first Intermediate Ring Road, which passes through Vellayambalam Junction, Thycaud, Choorakattupalayam, Power House Road (access to the southern opening of the Railway Station), Thakaraparambu Road, Vazhapalli, Kavadi Road, Pettah, Naalumukku, Kannammoola, Law College, PMG, LMS and Museum Junction.
The Thakaraparambu flyover, along with the Palayam Underpass, are considered major components in the road network development in the city for ensuring efficient and uninterrupted flow of traffic along MG Road.
An expert committee headed by Dr N S Sreenivasan had suggested a flyover at Thakaraparambu after a series of studies in 2002. The project got stuck after the space allocated to rehabilitation of traders was later occupied by a retail giant.