Protesting against the utter neglect of the work on the development of the 1.3-km Vaddy-Mulakada road in the city, the local committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday organised a citizens’ march to the office of the Public Works Department Executive Engineer.
The march, led by party leaders H. Basilal and A.K. Savad, was blocked by the police ahead of the office. The demonstrators then squatted on the road and held a dharna that was inaugurated by the CPI(M) State committee member K. Varadharajan. Former Mayor N. Padmalochanan and party leader A.M. Iqbal addressed the demonstrators.
The process for the development of the road began during the 2009-2010 fiscal with an allocation of Rs.8 crore. The development was sanctioned as part of the government measures to improve the road infrastructure to the Kollam Port, which was inaugurated at that time.
An allocation of Rs.8 crore was announced for the project and Rs.4 crore was sanctioned in 2009. This was for paying compensation for acquiring land from either side of the road to increase its width to 16 meters. Land was acquired from 107 owners and compensation paid was Rs.3.92 crore.
Drainage
With the remaining Rs.8 lakh, the road development work that comprised drainage also began in 2010. The whole stretch was dug up for the work but it could not progress because the remaining amount of Rs.4 crore has not been allocated. Since the past four-and-a-half years, the road has been wearing a ploughed look.
The rainy season makes things bad for those living along the road and others using the road. Unless inevitable, motorists avoid the road. Mr. Basilal said there was uncertainty over when the sanctioned amount would be allocated, and subsequently, over the work getting completed.
