CPT yet to hand over 18 cents of land.
KOCHI: The corporation council members have protested against the Cochin Port Trust's non-cooperative approach towards the much-anticipated Vathuruthy railway overbridge project. The CPT is yet to hand over the 18 cents of land owned by it for the flyover. Though the state government has agreed to provide two acres of land at Raman Thuruth in return to the CPT, the port authorities are yet to approve the deal. The delay in constructing the RoB has resulted in traffic bottlenecks in the area and causes hardships for the residents of West Kochi. The residents find it difficult to take a patient to the hospital in the city.
"When the railways start the MEMU train service in the Ernakulam-Harbour terminus section, the level cross has to be kept closed for several times which will worsen the traffic chaos. Compared to other flyover projects, the land required at Vathuruthy is the minimum and no private land has to be taken over. Construction works can be started soon after the CPT gives its nod," said UDF councillor Thambi Subrahmaniam, who raised the issue in a recent council meeting.
Mayor Soumini Jain told DC that she will meet the chairman in charge of the CPT soon. "We couldn't meet the official based in Chennai during his recent visit to Kochi due to a busy schedule. A meeting will be scheduled soon which will be attended by the MP, MLA and representatives of other stakeholder agencies. Only an NOC is required from the CPT now and land acquisition will be done later," she said. The state government has already entrusted the project with the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala and Rs.36 crore has been allocated from KIIFB. Six of the seven agencies involved in the construction of RoB have already given nod to start the construction.
