Kochi: Minister for Transport Thomas Chandy has said that the ongoing construction of the garage-cum-administrative block at the KSRTC Ernakulam depot will be stepped up, and that in due course, a new bus station befitting the status of the commercial hub of the State will be constructed.
Mr. Chandy was replying in the Assembly to a submission by Hibi Eden, who had allocated ₹2 crore from his asset development fund for the garage-cum-administrative block. The Minister said ₹60.01 lakh had been given to the contractor in November 2015, and that the remaining tranche of ₹79 lakh would be released this week.
The KSRTC director board had initially approved a bus terminal-cum-shopping complex and had even secured permission from the Kochi Corporation for the construction of a floor. However, on finding that pulling down the main bus station building and the garage would affect the operation of the depot, it was decided that a garage-cum-administrative block, would be constructed instead.
But the project got delayed reportedly due to the slow progress of work under the contractor. Besides, the new building developed cracks because of defects in the foundation attributable to the nature of the soil.
“Structural engineers recommended under-spinning, which is currently under way. Once 25% of the project is over, the new facility can be made operational,” Mr. Chandy said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Eden said the apathy of the engineering wing of the KSRTC and its alleged criminal negligence had resulted in the new building developing cracks and the collapse of a part of it. “Owing to the delay in construction, which was launched in September 2014, passengers face hardship when it rains at one of the oldest depots in the State, which still operates more than 180 services,” he observed.
He added that there was little progress in the work even after KSRTC Managing Director M.G. Rajamanickam’s visit to the depot. Mr. Chandy promised to convene a meeting involving Mr. Eden after the KSRTC finances improved in a couple of months.
