Work on the much sought-after bypass linking Mazhuvangaduchira with Ramanchira on MC Road at Thiruvalla has hit a roadblock, reportedly due to the delay in completing land acquisition and finalising the proposal to construct an overbridge near Ramanchira.
The flyover work has been abruptly stopped near YMCA Junction as land acquisition along the 300-metre stretch of the remaining 1,050-m stretch is yet to be completed.
Though the original proposal was to earth-fill the 750-m stretch of the bypass near Ramanchira, engineers have suggested an overbridge above the marshy land.
Former MLA and Kerala Congress (M) general secretary Joseph M. Puthussery has alleged that the Kerala State Road Project (KSTP) authorities and the government had taken an indifferent attitude towards the time-bound completion of the bypass project.
Official apathy alleged
Mr. Puthusserry alleged that neither the KSTP authorities nor the Public Works Minister had taken any effective steps to address the issue even after the contractor writing to the project director that he might be relieved of the project work owing to the delay.
He alleged that local MLA Mathew T. Thomas, who is also the Water Resources Minister, appeared to be least concerned about the completion of the project or quality of work.
Launched in 2014
The work on the Rs.33-crore bypass project was formally launched by the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in December 2014 and was scheduled to be completed by October 2016. However, the project had got into legal wrangles with local resident Jacob George moving the National Green Tribunal saying that the work would necessitate conversion of a large extent of the Mazhuvangaduchira wetland.
However, the NGT dismissed the petition.
KSTP project
The bypass is part of the major road development work along the Chengannur-Ettumanur stretch of MC Road under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP). The KSTP had also launched the road development work from Chengannur in November, 2014.
