The Vallakadavu Bridge Protection Council has flayed the State government for not initiating any steps to restore the century-old bridge at Vallakadavu.
The project to construct a new bridge is hanging fire for a long time.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, executive committee member of the council, Bilal Ahamed, said local residents were concerned about the condition of the dilapidated bridge.
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Work had begun in 2011 after the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department gave an adverse report on the condition of the bridge.
A survey was conducted to acquire land for construction of the bridge but it was stopped mid-way following opposition from certain quarters.
The property documents of people who offered to provide land for road expansion and construction of a new bridge were still in the possession of the District Collector.
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However, the work had not proceeded due to the vested interests of a section of people, said Ragam Abdul Raheem, general convenor of the council.
The UDF government had recently sanctioned a sum of Rs.9 crore for construction of the bridge.
The Chief Minister’s Office too had asked authorities concerned to expedite the work but so far nothing concrete had taken happened on the ground, he said.
“The bridge is in a very bad shape and anything could happen. Hundreds of vehicles pass through the weakened bridge causing concern over the safety of passengers. The onus will be on the government if an accident occurs,” he said.
The construction of the bridge had also become necessary for the overall development of the area, he said.