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August 15, 2025 – What was supposed to be a solution to one of India’s most congested traffic corridors has become a new source of frustration for drivers and pedestrians. The unfinished flyover-cum-underpass project at Edappally bypass in Kochi has left two skeletal elevated structures standing, blocked stretches of road, and deep pits that now pose daily hazards.
Originally proposed as part of the widening of National Highway 66 (NH66), the 50-meter-wide flyovers were designed to ease congestion at the Edappally Junction, where NH66 meets NH544. Instead, incomplete work has narrowed the usable carriageway, forcing vehicles into a chaotic shuffle between construction debris and parked cars.
The situation is especially acute for pedestrians, who have little space to walk and must navigate between moving traffic and muddy construction zones. During rain, the area turns into a slushy danger zone, increasing the risk of accidents. At night, poor lighting and unclear diversions add to the confusion.
“This is a major road used by heavy vehicles alongside regular traffic. The project was supposed to reduce congestion, but it has become an irony. Even the culvert work isn’t enough to handle heavy rain, leaving a huge pit where accidents are likely,” said George Abraham, a member of the local Swaraksha residents’ welfare association.
The six-lane highway narrows to four lanes at Edappally, creating a bottleneck that the flyovers were meant to resolve. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had told Parliament in 2024 that the flyovers would be completed by May 2026. But with May 2024 already passed and no visible progress, the project is effectively stalled.
Commuters have resorted to sarcastic commentary. “I parked my broken-down car here because no work is going on and I can avoid the heat. That’s the only problem these two structures have solved,” said Biju K, a local driver.
Efforts to reach the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for comment were unsuccessful. Officials did not respond to phone calls or emails.
Why U.S. readers should care
The Edappally project is a textbook example of infrastructure delays that plague cities worldwide, including in the United States. From the stalled I-35W bridge replacement in Minneapolis to the long-drawn-out Second Avenue Subway in New York, similar stories of mismanagement and cost overruns are common. A 2024 World Bank report on global infrastructure noted that nearly 30% of large-scale transport projects in developing countries face delays of more than two years.
“What’s happening in Kochi is not unique,” said Dr. Emily Carter, a transportation policy researcher at the University of Texas at Austin. “The combination of poor planning, contractor disputes, and lack of accountability leads to similar outcomes whether you’re in India or the U.S. The key difference is that in America, the stakes are often lower because alternative routes and public transit options are more developed.”
In the Edappally case, the lack of alternative routes magnifies the impact. The bypass is a critical link for freight and passenger traffic between the northern and southern parts of Kerala. Trucks carrying goods to and from the port of Kochi are forced to idle in long queues, adding to fuel costs and emissions.
Local residents have formed a group to demand accountability. “We are writing to the district collector and the NHAI office every week. No one answers,” said Abraham. “This is not just about convenience; it’s about safety. A child or an elderly person could fall into those pits any day.”
Latest developments
As of August 2025, there is no new timeline for completion. The NHAI’s official website still lists the project as “under construction” with no updated status. Meanwhile, the monsoon season has made the site even more treacherous. The incomplete culvert, meant to channel rainwater, now collects debris and becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways declined to comment on the delay. However, sources within the state public works department told local media that a dispute with the contractor over payment terms is holding up the work. The contractor, identified as a joint venture of two Indian firms, has reportedly stopped mobilization since early 2024.
What can be learned
The Edappally project underscores the need for better project management, public accountability, and contingency planning. For U.S. infrastructure planners, it serves as a cautionary tale: even well-intentioned projects can turn into public hazards when oversight fails.
“The first step is to establish a transparent timeline with penalties for delays,” said Carter. “The second is to ensure that temporary traffic management plans are actually enforced. In Kochi, they are not.”
As the monsoon rains continue, the people of Edappally are left to navigate a construction site that was supposed to be a blessing but has become a curse. The only bright spot, if any, is that the stalled structures have at least provided shade for a few broken-down cars.
