Kaduthuruthy: Relief is finally on the way for motorists tired of long waits at Kothanalloor railway gate, with works beginning on a railway overbridge that promises to cut travel time and ease congestion on the Kottayam-Ernakulam route.

The overbridge is coming up at Level Crossing No. 23 between Kuruppanthara and Ettumanoor railway stations. The Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (K-Rail) has begun works on the project following an agreement with the Centre and the Railways. The State government will bear 51% of the project cost, with the Railways contributing the remaining 49%.

The 280-metre-long overbridge and approach road will begin near the Thoovanisa Moyathil bridge on the Kottayam-Ernakulam road at Kothanalloor and connect to the PWD road at Kanneettumyalil in Onamthuruthu. Structures at the site have already been removed and piling work is under way. Land belonging to 14 persons in Kothanalloor village has been acquired for the project. Once completed, the overbridge is expected to ease congestion around the railway gate and provide a shorter route to Kothanalloor town and nearby areas.

“The State government is bearing 51% of the project cost and the work will be completed at the earliest. K-Rail has been directed to expedite the construction, with officials assigned to monitor its progress. Work on the Kuruppanthara overbridge will also begin soon, while the procedures for the Kaduthuruthy overbridge are progressing,” said Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph.

The project is part of efforts to improve connectivity along the Ernakulam-Ettumanoor stretch of the Kottayam-Ernakulam route. Overbridges have already been completed at Pothiyil, Appanchira, Malliyoor Road and Manjoor. At Kuruppanthara, land has been acquired and structures demolished for the proposed overbridge, while an overbridge has also been approved at Kaduthuruthy.

The Kothanalloor overbridge is expected to shorten the journey from Ernakulam to Kottayam Medical College, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam Textiles and the ESI Hospital by around 2 km. Residents of Chamakkala, Neendoor, Kaipuzha and Onamthuruthu will also have a shorter route to Ernakulam.

The project is expected to bring further relief after the doubling of the Kottayam-Ernakulam railway line, as motorists currently face long waits when the Kothanalloor gate is closed for train movements.