Pole position

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Demands to widen roads have raised a constant clamour in the state notorious for narrow passageways. Some have been widened too. But then electric posts stay put, obstructing traffic. How come they are not repositioned? Express examines

How many times have you escaped getting sandwiched between a KSEB transformer and a speeding vehicle while walking on a razor-thin pavement? Or the number of times your vehicle has barely scraped past an electric pole that has encroached the road width? Many a time, we blame the poor condition of roads for accidents but fail to notice how a precariously-located electric pole or a transformer contributes to the bloodshed on the roads. According to B G Sreedevi, Chief Scientist, National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC), there have been many instances in which fatalities have occurred due to improperly located electric utilities eating up the road space.

“Even though utilities such as electric posts can come within the Right Of Way (boundary area of the road), the road shoulder or carriageway should be totally free of such obstructions to ensure the safety of motorists and passersby,” she said. According to sources in the Public Works Department (PWD), every road widening project includes a financial component for shifting of utilities but the actual cost mostly overshoots the estimates.

“In a recent road widening project in the capital, the PWD had earmarked Rs 60 lakh for shifting of electric posts and other utilities. But KSEB presented a bill of Rs 2 crore for shifting of the utilities. Since the additional amount had to be coughed up by the Works Department, the road widening dragged on for many months,” said a senior PWD engineer.

OFFICIAL ENCROACHMENT’ BLAMED According to PWD Minister G Sudhakaran, no utility, be it of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) or the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), should encroach upon roads which are meant only for traffic. “In reality, no agency has the right to touch PWD roads, going by the provisions of the National Highway Protection Act. From assistant engineer onward, every officer has magisterial powers. But can we prosecute our own electricity board or water authority for such encroachments?” Sudhakaran asked.

The Works Minister alleged many contractors were hand in glove with officers to ensure electric utilities are not shifted in a timely manner so that they earn an extra buck later. “There is large-scale corruption in this area. Official encroachment is the major reason for the poor condition of PWD roads today,” he said. When roads are constructed, adequate area should be earmarked on both sides for public utilities, the minister said. He also called for greater coordination between senior officers of all departments concerned when roads are developed.

LACK OF COORDINATION Since government departments or agencies work in watertight compartments, there have been complaints of total lack of coordination among them when major road development work is carried out. There is a need for a proper action plan to be prepared before going ahead with major road development projects. “Top officers of all departments concerned should periodically meet and assess the progress of the work. Also, there is a need to prepare realistic estimates for shifting of utilities,” Sreedevi said.

THE WAY FORWARD According to Sudhakaran, though there has been a lot of effort on the part of the government to bring top engineers with PWD, KSEB and KWA to the same table, it has not brought the desired results. “There needs to be periodic meetings at the ministerial level to ensure better coordination between various departments and agencies. But what is more important is a change in the mindset of the senior officers concerned. They should first understand roads are meant for traffic. Of course, we need electricity and water but not at the expense of smooth transportation,” he said.

KRFB AND KSTP MODELS
Road widening projects undertaken by the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) and the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) have been noted for the manner in which utility shifting and widening of roads have happened simultaneously. “While the agencies concerned were given the funds required for
shifting of utilities in a timely manner, KRFB itself undertook the task in some stretches. This saved time and also ensured road development and shifting of utilities happened side by side,” said Harikesh P C, Chief Executive Officer, KRFB.

THE SOLUTION
Public utilities should not encroach upon road space
Shifting of utilities and road widening should be done simultaneously
Ensure periodic meeting and coordination betweenvarious agencies
 Prepare realistic estimates for shifting of utilities from the road