Railways have waived the maintenance and supervision charges for the construction of two rail overbridges along the Alappuzha bypass.
Railways had earlier demanded ₹2.13 crore as their share for the construction of overbridges at Thumboly and Punnapra.
“Railways have issued an order waiving maintenance and supervision charges for the construction of the rail overbridges,” PWD Minister G. Sudhakaran said.
About 70% of the Alappuzha bypass project works have been completed. However, the project was delayed by over six months after Railways demanded maintenance and supervision charges.
Officials said ₹148.30 crore had so far been given to the construction company. Construction of 58 deck slabs, 248 girders, 278 girder castings, 88 pier caps, and piers had already been completed.
The government was planning to open the bypass for traffic by May 2018.
The State PWD Principal Secretary had met officials of the Union Transport Ministry and Railways seeking waiver of charges. Following this, the Transport Ministry took up the matter with Railways.
The officials said an agreement was inked between Railways and the Union Ministry of Surface Transport in 2014, stipulating that the supervisory and maintenance charges need not be paid while constructing bridges and underpasses along national corridors.
It was on the basis of this that Railways waived the supervision and maintenance charges, said an official.
