The government has sanctioned the release of Rs.10 crore for the construction of the Panniyankara rail over-bridge, a vital part of the monorail project in the city.
Signalling implementation of the first step towards realising monorail as an effective means of public transport, the government ordered the immediate release of the amount to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to undertake the work on the Panniyankara bridge.
The monorail project, estimated at Rs.1,991 crore, would be developed in two phases. Phase-I will be from Medical College to Mananchira, and Phase-II from Mananchira to Meenchanda.
So far, the DMRC, a consultant for the project, has completed all the groundwork ahead of commencement of the project.
15 stopsThe monorail will have 15 stops along the 14.2 km elevated stretch from Medical College to Meenchanda in the city. The Panniyankara bridge work is estimated to cost Rs.76.16 crore.
It is one of the five major projects intended to accelerate Kozhikode’s development.
The present allocation of Rs.10 crore follows a letter of August 28, 2013, from the Principal Advisor, DMRC Ltd. The letter had, in fact, requested grant of Rs.20 crore to “meet immediate commitments” in the construction of the bridge.
Recently, Panchayat and Social Welfare Minister and Kozhikode south MLA M.K. Muneer, while participating in a face-to-face programme on completion of 1,000 days in office by the Congress-led United Democratic Front government, indicated that the government had given its nod for the release of the sum.
The Panniyankara bridge is also listed among the five major railway projects meant to accelerate Kozhikode’s development.
Other projectsThe others named by the government include the Elathur underpass, Pavangad-Puthiappa Road overbridge, Vadakkumpad underpass, and an over-bridge at the cramped Fourth Gate on P.T. Usha Road.
Though budgetary provisions have been made for Rs.1.7 crore for Elathur underpass, Rs.3.66 crore for the over-bridge on Pavangad-Puthiappa Road, Rs.1.98 crore for Vadakkumpad underpass and Rs.10 crore for the over-bridge at Fourth Gate, work is yet to start.
