: Activists of the Thammanam-Pullepady Janakeeya Samara Samithy laid siege to the road stretch protesting against the delay in implementing the road development scheme.
Inaugurating the agitation, social activist C.R. Neelakandan demanded steps for the timely completion of the development project using the funds allotted by the State government and the local body. The Kochi Corporation and the Public Works Department should work in tandem for completing the project, he demanded.
Though the road project was mooted two decades ago and 45 per cent of the land owners released the land free of cost for the project, the authorities could not develop the road stretch and implement the development project. Traffic snarls have become a regular feature in the stretch after the diversion of vehicles through this route on account of metro road work, said a statement issued by the samithy.
The samithy had been organising a series of agitations demanding the implementation of the road project. A convention was organised at Thammanam junction on March 5. A protest march was also held against the failure of the State government to earmark funds in the State budget for the project. Several representations were also submitted to the authorities including the Chief Minister and the Minister for Public Works Department regarding the project. The samithy will organise a series of protests including indefinite hunger strike for making the project a reality, said a statement issued by the organisers.
Those who addressed the protest meeting included T.J. Vinod, chairman of the Development Standing Committee of the Kochi Corporation, K.A.M. Haris, K.N. Lenin, K.D. Vincent, Santhosh Babu, K.K. Abu and Joji Kureekad, Corporation councillors.
