Thiruvananthapuram: The Peroorkada flyover project is finally moving to reality, with test piling having commenced at the site and Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK), the implementing agency, approving the design and other construction estimates submitted by the contractor. The contract has been entrusted to Cherian Varkey Constructions Ltd.RBDCK officials said the approval of the design and estimates has cleared a key technical hurdle for the project. “The test piling is currently under way, and the main piling work is expected to begin immediately after the test piling is completed. The contractor is also expected to commence the main work shortly,“ a senior official said.The 874.7m, two-lane flyover will connect the Peroorkada side near Lourdes Church with the Vazhayila side near St Jude Church. The project is being implemented with funding support from KIIFB. RBDCK’s project details show that the revised financial sanction for the project was accorded by KIIFB in Dec 2025, while the work was awarded to the contractor in March 2026 and the agreement was signed in June.The construction tender covers the flyover, approach roads, service roads, drains and culverts. The tender document had prescribed 730 days, though officials have now said the project is planned for completion within about 18 months once full-scale construction gets under way.The latest development comes after a series of delays that had kept the project from taking off despite the foundation stone being laid in Nov 2021. Land acquisition, demolition of structures, and redesigning of the project contributed to the delay. The original proposal for an underpass was subsequently changed to a flyover after underground water pipelines were found along the proposed alignment.Land acquisition has already been substantially completed, with compensation paid to affected landowners and most structures on the acquired plots cleared.The junction is a major traffic bottleneck where roads towards Nedumangad, Kudappanakunnu and other eastern suburbs converge. The proposed flyover is expected to provide a grade-separated corridor and improve traffic movement through the busy junction.
