A bus shelter is new bone of contention between PWD & corp

Thiruvananthapuram: The demolition of a bus shelter on the Vazhuthacaud–Edapazhinji Road near the office of director of survey department has sparked off a spat between the city corporation and the public works department (PWD). The matter further flared up with PWD minister G Sudhakaran sending a letter to mayor K Sreekumar saying that demolition of a bus shelter in good condition and construction of a new one was done without the consent of PWD.
In his letter, the minister has also held deputy mayor Rakhi Ravikumar responsible for demolition of the shelter so that a new one may be constructed using MP fund of Binoy Viswam. The minister noted in the letter that the bus shelter owned by Prateeksha Bus Shelters Ltd, a special purpose vehicle of PWD, was in perfect shape and that it was demolished without authorization, which amounts to destruction of public property. He also recalled that PWD executive engineer had issued a letter earlier demanding stalling of construction activities of the new bus shelter without the approval of PWD which actually owned the land.
Prateekha MD also took up the matter with city police commissioner demanding legal action against those who demolished the bus shelter, the minister said. The minister has communicated to mayor that the ongoing construction may be halted immediately.
An internal dissent has also broken out within the council over the issue with the town planning committee reportedly taking exception to the demolition of bus shelter. This was one among the 41 shelters which the council had approved for revamp. Besides, the corporation had entrusted an agency with advertisements on bus shelters and maintenance and demolition of the bus shelters, which accounted for violation of contract. The bus shelter was demolished without the knowledge of town planning committee and the issue resulted in an exchange of words between Rakhi Ravikumar and town planning committee chairman Palayam Rajan, according to sources.
The cold war between the deputy mayor and town planning committee chairman was visible in the council meeting held on Tuesday. Rajan, who is usually an active speaker in council meeting especially when opposition pushes the LDF council to the corner, was strangely silent throughout the session even when the deputy mayor was repeatedly questioned by the opposition over some items on the agenda.
According to sources, the site for construction of the bus shelter using MP funds was initially fixed near Cotton Hill LP School. However, it turned out that the existing shelter near survey department office was pulled down to construct a new one using MP funds. The deputy mayor said that the demolition was not done intentionally. “It was a clear case of misunderstanding. The matter is now being settled peacefully. An alternative location will be assigned for the bus shelter,” she said.