A dawn-to-dusk hartal called in Kacheripady-Chittoor region on Tuesday by a conclave of different organisations to protest against the use of force by the police to disperse residents protesting against Pachalam overbridge work was total.
Most shops remained closed while buses kept off roads in what has been termed as a politically-motivated hartal. Residents blamed State government for trying to acquire their land without paying compensation amount, while a few political parties and organisations wanted a four-lane bridge instead of the two lane one for which work was under way.
Monday’s police action came when protesters, including senior citizens, tried to stop workers as DMRC’s contractor tried to resume piling work on the bridge’s western side where shops and houses have to be demolished to pave way for the bridge. Work is going on as scheduled on the eastern side since the alignment passes over the road. A few NGOs, traders, religious and political organisations are on the warpath citing their demand for prompt payment of compensation and a wider bridge. DMRC had made it clear that the bridge could be widened to four lane depending on the traffic density. Kochi Metro sources said delay in commissioning the bridge would affect vehicles diverted from main roads when metro works intensify in the city.
“The protests are coming despite High Court demanding speeding up of works on the bridge. They are not even allowing the contractor to work on Railway property. We need a congenial atmosphere to complete the bridge,” they said.