Blame game on: Metro trapped in land muddle
For the inordinate land acquisition delays of Kochi Metro, who’s to blame? As the agencies involved in the procedure such as the revenue department and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) are blaming each other for the cause, the latter has already gone on record about the project going well beyond the December 2016 deadline.
In March 2011, DMRC has been sanctioned about Rs 158 crore by the state government to complete preparatory works that included the construction of new ROB on Salim Rajan Road; widening of MG Road, south railway station road and Banerji Road; reconstruction of north ROB; and construction of drains and utility ducts along these roads. Although construction of ROBs has been completed by DMRC but the widening of arterial roads as well as the construction of drains and ducts have lagged behind.
On the main city roads, this could have eased traffic congestion experienced by motorists. An official associated with the Metro agency said, within two or three months, we will complete the widening of Banerji Road. . In the case of widening of MG Road and Jos Junction – south railway station road, we didn’t receive land on time. Furthermore due to the fact that the work on Kochi Metro rail and road widening are complementary to each other, it can be carried out simultaneously.
But revenue department officials told a different story. As per the information extracted by them the work of land acquisition for widening these roads had been completed almost 18 months ago. An official with the revenue department claimed, “In some areas, we handed over the land required for widening two years ago. We completed the handing over of the entire land for the purpose one-and-a-half years ago. So there is no delay on our part.”
On Banerji Road and MG Road, work is being carried out by DMRC in stretches because traffic through these roads would have been impossible if work was undertaken along the entire stretch.
The construction of drains and ducts and Widening of arterial roads have lagged behind.
Source: Times of India
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