Hitting a roadblock

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:It seems the second phase development of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila is jinxed. Reason? Red tape! The 5.6 km stretch between Pravachambalam and Kodinada at Balaramapuram is the major part of the second phase of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila stretch.

Even after land acquisition between Pravachambalam and Kodinada was completed months ago, the authorities are yet to take a decision on floating fresh tenders.Sources in the PWD said the tender proceedings will be delayed. The reason being cited is the delay in compensating those working at the commercial establishments located along the stretch. Once the development begins, these establishments will be demolished.Earlier, a PWD chief engineer had said the tender process will begin after land acquisition till Kodinada is completed.

Though PWD officials had promised the initial proceedings including floating tenders will be completed within the stipulated time frame, nothing has happened so far. The owners have already started demolishing the buildings on their own, while the decision on removing the public utilities including the electric posts has to be taken by the government.

“The authorities had announced they will be floating tenders before Onam. That was in August. It’s been two months since, but nothing has happened. Some of the residents and building owners have razed down their buildings after they got compensated. However, the government’s apathy is putting the lives of the commuters and motorists at risk. The situation is pathetic. The traffic block at Balaramapuram junction affects the travel plans of the commuters,” said a member of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila action council.
The project is being included in KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board) and land acquisition between Balaramapuram and Vazhimukku is underway.

As per the fund status, Rs 266.67 crore has been handed over to the Revenue Department for land acquisition in the Pravachambalam-Balaramapuram stretch. Of this, Rs 122.46 crore has already been disbursed. For widening of the 1.5 km stretch from Balaramapuram to Vazhimukku, 2.069 hectares of land is being acquired.

Meanwhile, the PWD officials said the tender proceedings will begin only after compensation amount is handed over to the people who have lost their jobs as part of the development.“Land acquisition at Balaramapuram has begun. We have already started collecting details of the staffers who might lose their jobs once the buildings are fully demolished. But the fund for the same is to be released. This, in turn, affects the tender proceedings. However, we will solve all the problems and the tenders will be floated very soon,” said a top PWD officer.