It took just five days for Pachalam overbridge works to get off the blocks from the day it got the Cabinet go-ahead.
On Tuesday, piling began for the two-lane road overbridge for which Rs. 52 crore has been sanctioned. The project cost includes the money that has to be shelled out to acquire 46 cents of land.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has scheduled to commission the bridge within six months of handing over the acquired land.
ADVERTISEMENT
At the inaugural, Union Minister of State K.V. Thomas said: “The speed at which Kochi Metro Rail Limited’s MD Elias George catalysed ‘file movement’ and DMRC Principal Advisor E. Sreedharan’s insistence that work must begin the very same day the foundation stone is laid augur well for the bridge. Mr. Sreedharan has said the bridge will be built in such a way that it can be four laned at a later stage”.
“Next in line is construction of a bridge at Vaduthala, which DMRC must undertake. Widening of extremely narrow roads in the locality is another priority,” he said. Following criticism that the foundation stone was laid before a Government Order was issued, a GO was issued by Tuesday evening.
P Rajeeve, MP, blamed successive governments for failing to four lane NH 47 and NH 17 despite acquiring land at 30-metre width three decades ago. Charles Dias, MP, and MLAs from the district were among those present.
ADVERTISEMENT
A section of traders protested against the launching of the overbridge project late on Tuesday night.They staged the protested after workers of the DMRC blocked the thoroughfare in the area. Sources said traffic regulations will be in place at Pachalam level crossing till the bridge is ready.