Hurdles on Metro rail track

KOCHI: Though the authorities of the metro rail project are planning to speed up the proceedings to demolish the north railway overbridge, the councillors of the Corporation are sticking to their earlier decision. The council had decided not to give approval for demolishing the north overbridge for the metro rail project unless alternative projects are implemented for diverting traffic. The councillors are expected to raise their protest at the special council meeting to be held on July 25 to discuss about the project. It was the other day that Mayor Tony Chammany decided to convene a special council meeting to discuss the demolition of the north railway overbridge. “It’s an unnecessary meeting. The council has already decided not to go ahead with the demolition of the north overbridge,” a senior councillor said. He said that the city will witness traffic chaos if the bridge was demolished without completing the Salim Rajan overbridge and the overbridge landing at Rajaji Road.“The overbridges will provide  alternative exit routes from the city and reduce traffic congestion during the demolition of the north overbridge,” the councillor said. Another hurdle before the civic body is the rehabilitation of the traders under the north overbridge. Meanwhile, an opposition councillor said that the decision by the Metro Rail authorities to go ahead with the demolition of the north overbridge shows the ineffectiveness of the civic body as various authorities are executing work according to their own plans without obtaining the consent of the council.Earlier, the metro rail authorities had said that traders under the north overbridge who will be evacuated from area will be rehabilitated under the Pullepady RoB. As per the plan, the side roads of the north overbridge will be demolished first. The traffic will be diverted through the Pullepady RoB.  “But for that the Thammanam-Pullepady Road should be widened. The civic body has not even completed the land acquisition for the road widening. We will strongly oppose any move to demolish the north overbridge before the completion of the road widening,” the senior councillor said.