Bridge without approach roads irks high court

KOCHI: Construction of a bridge across Vembanad Lake at a cost of Rs 48 crore without approach roads on both sides depicts the sorry state of affairs in Kerala, said the high court.Justice A Muhamed Mustaque has now ordered the state government to immediately acquire lands on both sides of Nerekadavu Bridge at Vadakkemuri across Kollam-Kottapuram Waterway. Once the bridge is joined with the approach roads, it would provide connectivity between NH-66, at Thurvaoor, and state highway-15 between Tripunithura to Vaikom, at Udayanapuram.The court considered a petition by 74-year-old NM Thaha of Vaikom through advocate KM Sathyanatha Menon for acquiring lands for approach roads. In the order, the court said, “The case depicts a sorry state of affairs… pointing out lack of coordination among different agencies involved in the construction of a bridge.”Construction of the bridge between Makkekadavu and Nerekadavu was entrusted to Cherian Varkey Construction Company Pvt Ltd in 2016. The construction started before the acquisition of land for the approach roads. As of now, there is a bridge that is of no use, as per court records.“… With all common sense, one could understand without acquiring land on both sides, no bridge can be put to use. It is not known why tender was awarded in a haste… This is a case where Court should have ordered for a vigilance enquiry… However, the Court will not be restrained from passing such an order if so warranted. The immediate concern… is acquisition of the land…,” the court said in its interim order.The court ordered the PWD secretary to take immediate steps for acquiring the land and report before the court by the next hearing scheduled on February 14.