Light Metro, flyover work to shift to top gear.

A high-level meeting chaired by Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran recently decided to expedite work on the elevated Light Metro and the five flyovers proposed for the capital.

The meeting convened at the request of Minister for Electricity Kadakampally Surendran, who is also in-charge of capital district, decided to expedite the Rs.400-crore work sanctioned in the maiden budget of the Left Democratic Front government for the district.

The work on the flyovers at Sreekaryam, Ulloor, Kumarapuram, Pattom and Thampanoor will commence soon.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC), which has been given the task of preparatory works, has been insisting on commencing work on the flyovers at Sreekaryam, Ulloor, Pattom and Thampanoor to save time and cost escalation. The light metro proposed from Technocity at Pallipuram to Karamana in Phase 1 is awaiting the Union government’s nod.

P. Jayakumar, General Manager (Civil), DMRC, told the meeting that work on Light Metro could be expedited using the funds earmarked for the Major Infrastructure Development Project in the revised budget.

The flyovers at Ulloor, Kumarapuram and Thampanoor Junction are estimated to cost Rs.25 crore each.

The underpasses to be built at Pattom and Peroorkada are estimated to cost Rs.10 crore. The officials informed the meeting that steps would be taken to complete the flyovers in a time-bound manner.

The Ministers instructed the officials to commence work sanctioned in the revised budget for solving the traffic and transportation problems in the capital district.

The works include the Rs.200-crore Karamana-Kaliyikkavila NH 66 four-laning, Rs.10-crore Sivagiri ring road, Rs.20-crore Palode-Brymore road, Rs.10-crore Ponmudi-Brymore road, and Rs.15-crore Venjaramood ring road.

The other roads to be developed include the Pettah-Anayara-Oruvathilkotta, Nedumangad-Aruvikkara-Vellanad, Kaniyapuram-Chirayinkeezhu, Muthalapozhi-Vettoor-Varkala-Nadayara-Paripally, and Alamcode-Meerankadavu-Anchuthengu-Muthalapozhi. A sum of Rs.10 crore each had been allocated for these roads.

Legislators K. Muraleedharan and V.S. Sivakumar; Mayor V.K. Prashant; managing director of KRTL P.I. Sheikh Pareeth; Chief Engineer, PWD National Highway, K.P. Prabhakaran; and officials of the PWD and KRTL attended.

THE HINDU