Trivandrum: The Pettah - Anayara road in the city holds the rather dubious distinction of having a manned level crossing despite heavy road and rail traffic. The number of productive hours lost waiting here is simply criminal. The doubling of the railway lines and its subsequent electrification has increased the frequency of trains. Also rakes are taken to Kochuveli from the Central station and back for maintenance work and the frequent shunting of engines between the two stations means that the level gates are closed every now and then and on some occasions, for quite prolonged time periods.

To ease the delay caused by frequent closing of the level cross gate, construction of a rail overbridge was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan on February 7 2011, as a joint initiative by the State Government and the Indian Railways.

On behalf of the Government, the job of completing the work within the scheduled time was entrusted to the Roads and Bridges Corporation. As per the conceived plan, the State Government was to construct the 340 meters of approach road, 170 meters on either side, while the Railways were to construct the 70 meter long over bridge. The project was to be completed within an eight month time period, or by October 2011.