Lack of vision in NOB demolition

KOCHI: Though the hue and cry over dismantling the North Over Bridge is gaining momentum, the authorities are yet to take a concrete step in this regard. If the authorities concerned do not come up with an explicit plan, it can put a spoke in Kochi’s wheel. “We lack vision in city planning. Owing to this, we face a lot of problems. Before dismantling the bridge, grassroot work has to be done on a war footing,” said Rangadasa Prabhu, president, the Ernakulam District Residents Association Apex Council (EDRAAC).“As the North Overbridge is the main gateway for the vehicles to come and go, meticulous care has to be taken. We have chalked out several suggestions. The Gosree, Mamangalam stretch to Chakkiath should be developed. If an ROB over the Ponekkara Devakkulangara Road materialises, there could be an easy approachability to NH 17 that could provide easy accessibility to AIIMS. The previous government had already sanctioned Rs 14.63 crores to develop this road. EDRAAC, the residents associations of Edappally, Elamakkara and Cheranallur zones and the Mahatma Resident’s Association worked painstakingly to procure the sanction,” he said. As Pachalam is a residential area, an ROB could easily facilitate the mobility in the Vaduthala and Chittoor area. Though the construction of the Pulleppady bridge was completed an year ago, it lacks an approach road that could easily divert the traffic to the bypass and also to the Seaport Airport Road. If Salim Rajan ROB is materialised there would be an easy connectivity from the KSRTC bus stand to the bypass. The Atlantis ROB has already been sanctioned and the ensuing works has to be taken up at the earliest. The Thevara-Bund Road also requires immediate attention as it can help commuters of West Kochi to access the bypass without coming to the city.When asked why the project is lagging behind, Mayor Tony Chammany said that the rehabilitation of the vendors under the bridge is yet to be undertaken. The Kerala Roads and Bridges Development Corporation has to take care of that. Land acquisition also poses a major problem. The cost incurred to acquire land is much more than that of the envisaged project. The District Collector had earlier said that the bridge will be pulled down on May 15.  When asked about it he said, “We are waiting to convene a meeting with the minister concerned, the MLA and other stakeholders. We will resume work as early as possible. Rangadasa Prabhu also alleged that as the GCDA has become a totally inactive organisation, it has to be removed at the earliest and should come up with a vision to set up a Kochi Metropolitan District Authority that could easily look into the funding of such big projects.