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Thiruvananthapuram: Palarivattom flyover to be fully reconstructed

The Rs 42-crore flyover, inaugurated in October 2016, was shut in May this year after major flaws were detected.

Thiruvananthapuram: The controversial Palarivattom flyover in Kochi will be rebuilt as per the recommendation made by Metroman E. Sreedharan.

“Sreedharan has said that renovation or strengthening it was not a feasible option. We have accepted this recommendation and hence decided to rebuild the bridge,” Chief Min-ister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday. “The existing structure will be demolished. Sreedh-aran has been given the charge of overall supervision of the project. The design and estimates will be submitted by Sreedharan in a few days,” Vijayan added.

The Rs 42-crore flyover, inaugurated in October 2016, was shut in May this year after major flaws were detected. The temporary closure for one month was since extended indefinitely. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Chennai, in its report on the flyover raised uncertainty over the lifespan of the bridge if it was renovated.

The work on the new flyover will begin on October 1 and be completed within a year.

Sreedharan said the flyover's piers will be strengthened, but the six girders cannot be retained. Only part of the flyover will be rebuilt.

“The piers and pier caps will be strengthened. Girders will have to be completely remo-ved. The new design will be submitted to the government imm-ediately. I have been entrusted with the technical supervision,” he said.

Mr Vijayan alleged that former PWD minister V. K. Ebrahimkunju was also involved in the corruption. Ebrahim-kunju said in Kochi that he welcomed any probe. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala maintained that if there was corruption invol-ved, it should be probed.

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