Angamaly–Kundannoor Bypass

Angamaly–Kundannor Bypass
Angamaly–Kundannor Bypass
അങ്കമാലി–കുണ്ടന്നൂർ ബൈപാസ്
Route information
	Maintained by NHAI
Length	47 km (29 mi)
Major junctions
South end	Kundannoor
North end	Angamaly
Location
Country	India
Districts	Ernakulam
Major cities	Kochi
Highway system
	Roads in India; Expressways; National; State; Asian;

The Angamaly-Kundannoor Bypass, also known as Ernakulam Bypass is a proposed partially-controlled-greenfield corridor or highway in the Ernakulam district, Kerala, India.^[1] The highway will pass through sparsely populated areas avoiding Kochi city completely and is expected to reduce the traffic on the NH 544 and NH 66. It will begin at Karayamparambu on the northern side of Angamaly on NH 544 and end at south of the NH 66 at Kundannoor.^[2]

Background

Angamali-Aluva-Edapally stretch and Edapally-Arur Bypass are a part of NH-544 and NH-66 respectively. Presently, the easy route for vehicles coming from Angamali to enter Alappuzha is by crossing the narrow Marthandavarma bridge at Aluva as well as Edappally, which is one of the busiest junctions in the state. There are also more than ten traffic signals on the 23 km stretch from Angamaly to Edappally.^[3] The Angamali–Kundannoor Bypass was proposed in order to reduce the traffic congestion in this stretch as well as to reduce the travelling time between Angamaly and Kundannoor. It is reported that while it takes up to an hour and a half to cover this distance on the existing national highway, the journey can be completed in half an hour through the new bypass.^[4]

Overview

The proposed bypass will be 10 km inland from the existing route and will have no major towns or junctions. The project will be completed as a six lane greenfield highway by acquiring the land avoiding residential areas as much as possible.^[5] The bypass is expected to decongest Angamali, Aluva and the Kochi bypass. It will have service roads on both sides. According to reports, it will be constructed with underpasses completely avoiding junctions and signals.^[6] The preliminary alignment of the bypass was prepared with the help of a private agency. The central government gave approval for the construction of the bypass in December 2022.^[7]

Route description

The 47 km highway starts from Karayamparampu in Angamaly and passes through 17 villages in Aluva, Kunnathunad and Kanayannoor taluks. It runs parallel to the MC road along the southern side and passes through Marampally and Ponjassery regions and passes through Pattimatam. A new six-lane bridge will also be constructed across Periyar river. From here, moving southwards, it will cross the existing NH-85 near Puthankurish and turn in a westerly direction. It then runs south of Tripunithura and reach Kundannoor to join the current NH-66.^[8] The proposed Kochi-Theni Industrial Corridor will meet at Puthankurish on this highway.