Delay in shifting of utilities hit NH works

Thiruvananthapuram: When chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the widening works of the second portion of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila NH stretch, some argued that it was a move to silence those questioning the delay in execution of the project at the time of election. More than a month after the inauguration of the works, construction is yet to gather steam, thanks to the laxity in shifting of utilities.
The stretch from Pravachambalam to Vazhimukku was supposed to be handed over free of encumbrance at the time of inauguration of works. But the fund for utility shifting is yet to be awarded.

Sources in Kerala infrastructure investment fund board (KIIFB), which has to release the fund for utility shifting said that Kerala water authority and Kerala state electricity board have not submitted estimate for shifting of utilities in the area. Usually it takes months to complete shifting of electric posts and water pipelines. Works to demolish buildings such as Pallichal panchayat office and Balaramapuram village office too are pending.

Solution to one of the major hurdles – presence of houses in old Rajapatha area – is yet to be sorted out.

NH wing officials of public works department said that the issue pertaining to utility shifting is not a hindrance to construction works. They said that Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society is progressing with the construction of a culvert in the area. The officials said that the shifting of utilities and demolition of buildings will progress as works are initiated in the concerned areas.

However, Karamana-Kaliyikkavila action council alleged laxity on the part of officials in speeding up the project. “We learned that the residents living in puramboke land were given six months-time to shift, which makes it clear that work at Pravachambalam side would take that much time,” said Mannankal Ramachandran, general section (Nemom), Karamana-Kaliyikkavila action council.