Building demolition as part of Peroorkada flyover project begins on Tuesday

Thiruvananthapuram: The long-awaited flyover project at Peroorkada is moving into its next phase The demolition of buildings on land acquired for development is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

The flyover, aimed at easing traffic congestion at one of the busiest intersections in the city, will span 874m. Once demolition is completed, the tender process for construction will be floated in May, said VK Prasanth MLA, who is overseeing the project.

Speaking to TOI, Prasanth dismissed reports that traders in the area were opposing the project due to concerns over business losses. "There are no objections to the project itself," he said. "However, it is true that a section of traders expressed concern about losing their business during the demolition phase. Many requested that the process be postponed until after the Onam season. Most of the traders occupying the shops marked for demolition are tenants," he said. Prasanth assured that these issues were being addressed and added that land acquisition for the project was completed and compensation already disbursed. The Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK), the implementing agency, will oversee both the demolition and the construction phases.

The demolition tender was called earlier this month and the work will be carried out in stages to ensure minimal disruption to nearby establishments and commuters. The Rs 106.76 crore project is being funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). Currently, traffic signals at the junction are insufficient to manage the volume of vehicles, especially during peak hours. Despite efforts to minimize disruption, around 25 shops will be demolished to make way for the new structure.

Authorities emphasized that they were taking steps to support affected businesses through compensation and timely communication. The flyover project underwent several revisions since it was first proposed. The initial plan included an underpass. However, a feasibility study by RBDCK revealed the presence of drinking water pipelines beneath the road, ruling out that option. This led to a redesign of the project as a flyover, which was officially greenlit with the foundation stone laid by PWD minister PA Mohamed Riyas in Nov 2021. Construction of the flyover is expected to be completed within 18 months.