Palarivattom flyover: Rs 2 crore spent on repair also wasted

Kochi: With the decision to reconstruct Palarivattom flyover, the amount spent for its repair also has been wasted. 

Rs 42 crore was spent for the construction of the flyover. On the basis of the report of Madras IIT, some maintenance works at a cost of Rs 2 crore was completed after May 1, 2019. All these amounts were used up in vain.

The contract company, RDS, claimed that they spent Rs 2 crore for changing the deck continuity technology used for joining the deck slabs to the ordinary steel joint system. Meanwhile, E. Sreedharan suggested that the flyover should be reconstructed.

E. Sreedharan said that the estimated amount for reconstructing the flyover could be Rs 21 crore. It will cause another controversy over who would spend the amount. 

The RDS company spent Rs 2 crore for the repair works. But it is yet to be confirmed if the amount for the reconstruction would be paid by them. The contractors claimed that there is no such condition included in the contract.

Pollution trouble

Pollution will be a major challenge while demolishing the flyover which is situated on the national highway bypass where over 1 lakh vehicles pass daily. Even if the flyover is demolished with the help of machines, dust, noise and traffic block will be a huge menace.

After the four flats in Maradu were demolished a few months ago, Kochi would witness the demolition of a flyover as well. The flyover was supposed to be demolished even before the flats. But as the matter was under consideration of the court, the demolition was delayed.