NHAI to Replace Elevated Highway Sections with Flyovers in Kollam; Rs 90 Crore Additional Cost Approved

Elevated highway sections in three areas of Kollam district are being dismantled to make way for the construction of flyovers. The project, which involves an additional expenditure of Rs 90 crore, will see flyovers being constructed in Mylakkad, Mevaram, and Kadavur.

The decision follows the structural failure of an elevated highway section near Mylakkad, which occurred as the construction of National Highway 66 reached its final stages. A subsequent investigation identified poor soil stability as the primary cause of the collapse. Given that all three locations are situated in marshy areas, authorities have decided to replace the planned elevated highway sections with flyovers, also referred to as viaducts.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved the recommendation for the change, which was proposed by the Thiruvananthapuram regional office. Consequently, the partial demolition of the existing elevated highway has commenced.

Piling work at Mylakkad and construction activities at Kadavur and Mevaram are already underway. The project design includes a 120-meter long flyover extending from the existing viaduct at Mylakkad toward Kottiyam, an 80-meter long flyover on both sides of the existing structure at Mevaram, and a 440-meter long flyover at Kadavur.

At Mevaram, approximately 200 meters of the elevated highway heading toward Kottiyam has been dismantled, with workers removing reinforced earth (RE) panels and clearing the soil. In some sections, the embankment, which was previously built up to a height of over 25 feet, has been completely cleared.

While there have been demands to replace elevated highway sections in Chathannoor, Kottiyam, Ayathil, and Kallumthazham with flyovers as well, the NHAI has not accepted these requests. Traffic has already commenced on the elevated highway at Kottiyam. Furthermore, experts from IIT Palakkad conducted inspections and determined that the elevated highway at Chathannoor is safe. Consequently, the Thiruvananthapuram regional project director has informed the High Court that constructing flyovers in those areas is not practical.