Following the public outcry over the alleged irregularities in the construction of the 200-metre-long foot overbridge linking Kottarakadavu and Aluva Manappuram, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has expressed its willingness to extend support to the Public Works Department’s (PWD) internal vigilance wing in probing the matter.
A senior VACB official said it was up to the PWD’s internal vigilance wing to probe how the foot overbridge project incurred high expenditure and how it got administrative and technical sanctions. “We will extend support to the PWD’s wing if necessary and if there is a request,” he said.
Corruption charges
The move comes a week after Khalid Mundapilly, an anti-corruption activist, sought a Vigilance probe into how the PWD spent Rs.14 crore to build the overbridge. The PWD (Roads Division) had estimated Rs.10 crore as the maximum cost for the six-metre-wide bridge. “The rate was enhanced by 40 per cent and it reeked of corruption. The 750-metre-long Mahilalayam-Turuth overbridge which is 12 metres wide and can carry two-lane traffic is located just 3 km from the foot overbridge. Its construction cost was just Rs.24 crore,” he said.
Toll collection
Mr. Mundapilly sought another probe into the alleged irregularities in the construction and toll collection of the 82-km-long Edappally-Paliyekkara NH 47 corridor. The NHAI undertook four laning of only the 56-km-long Angamaly-Mannuthy stretch. But it included the 26-km-long Edappally-Angamaly stretch, which was four-laned years ago, and is imposing toll based on the 82-km distance.
“The sole construction it undertook in the Edappally-Angamaly corridor was the Aluva flyover, which was unnecessary and a wastage of public funds. The officials and other stakeholders involved must be prosecuted,” he demanded.
UNDER SCRUTINY
Irregularities alleged in construction of overbridge linking Kottarakadavu and Manappuram
Anti-graft activist seeks probe into how PWD spent Rs.14 cr. for bridge
PWD had estimated Rs.10 cr. as maximum cost for 6-metre-wide bridge
