Corporation slips on JNNURM

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The Kochi Corporation has failed to implement several projects envisaged under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) Phase-I.

The local body will now have to either abandon or re-design these projects to become eligible for funds under Phase-II of the centrally funded scheme that aims to upgrade urban infrastructure.

The corporation is expecting an official order from the Centre regarding the launching of the seven-year JNNURM Phase-2.

“The corporation needs to scrap all those projects which it failed to initiate during the earlier seven-year term.

It’s a tough task to decide which projects have to be taken forward and to prepare a well-conceived plan of action for them. Major changes are needed in the present design of the incomplete projects.

Their designs have to be reviewed and to be submitted as fresh proposals,” said K.J. Sohan, chairman of the town planning standing committee.

The civic body has drawn flak for under-utilisation of the JNNURM Phase-1 funds. The corporation was incapable of conceiving of well-thought-out projects.

The projects were flawed either in technique, design or execution. Some projects were stuk because of the usual land acquisition issues.

JNNURM-funded works that were successfully completed are the improvement of the Edappally-High Court Road and junction that cost Rs 15.53 crore, and development of the Sahodaran Ayyappan Road and junctions at a cost of Rs 8.39 crore. Drainage work in various parts of the city is also nearing completion.

The much hyped e-governance programme, also funded by JNNURM, is being readied for launch, according to sources in the corporation.

That still leaves undone major work in solid waste management, water supply, sewerage, surface water drainage, urban road transport and heritage.

The JNNURM was launched in December 2005 for seven years, till 2011-12, with the objective of reforms-driven and fast-track development of cities across the country. As many as 65 cities across the country have been included in the first phase.

Projects that failed in the first phase

DC correspondent
kochi , june 3
Total amount allocated for Phase-1 — `613.91 crore.

Project components – 8 (Solid waste management, water supply, sewerage, surface water drainage, urban road transport, e-governance, heritage, BSUP)

Pachalam RoB

An ambitious project proposed as a solution for traffic snarls on Banerjee Road, it will function as a city by-pass when completed. It is part of the Goshree-Mamangalam Road project. The project has been delayed due to hitches in land acquisition and objections to the alignment by local residents and the Chathiyathu Church authorities. The amount sanctioned for the project is `44.8202 crore.

Sewerage plant at Mundamveli

The plant was proposed at Mundamveli to res- olve issues related to sewerage treatment in the city.

The plan was to construct a modern plant on five acres of land owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority.

However, the corporation’s attempt to clear mangroves in the area landed it in court for violating coastal regulation zone norms.

The Coastal Zone Management Authority has objected to the project and a case is pending in the High Court.

Urban road transport projects

Upgradation of Stadi-um Link Road

The development of the road was planned in two stages: construction of drains and road development. Though 80 per cent of the drainage work has been completed, road development is yet to start.

Thammanam-Pullepady Road, Goshree-Mamangalam Road and SA Road west extension also have not been completed.