No approach road to bridge

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Even after its completion four years ago, the Ezhupunna- Kumbalangi bridge has still not been opened to the public.

The dispute over land acquisition for the approach road has indefinitely delayed the project. The tussle between the PWD and land owners has slowed down the work and the authorities failed to negotiate with the landlords who approached the court.

The opening of the bridge would have reduced the distance between Ernakulam and Alappuzha by at least seven kilometres.

When the construction of the bridge was completed in April 2008, it was expected that the journey from Ernakulam to Alappuzha would become faster and easier.

The local residents allege that land could not be acquired even after four years due to spats over silly issues.

“It was the authorities’ lack of planning which delayed the opening of the bridge. In contravention of plans, the land for the approach road was not acquired before the construction of the bridge,” alleged K. Mohan, a local resident.

Meanwhile, Dominic Presentation, MLA, told Deccan Chronicle that the land acquisition procedure was progressing quickly.

“A dispute with a landowner over acquiring just half a cent of land is the major roadblock now as he is not willing to surrender the land.

Meanwhile, the committee chaired by the Chief Secretary has recently passed the land acquisition report which will be handed over to the revenue department.

The revenue department will soon issue a notification for acquisition and the district collector will fix the land value,” he said.

The MLA added that the work on the approach road can be completed within a week once the land is made available. “However, it will take two more months to complete the acquisition process,” he added.

The Ezhupunna-Kumbalangi stretch will be a parallel route to the national highway 47 and it will help to decongest the highway.

“Once it is functional, people of West Kochi can easily reach Cherthala and Alappuzha by directly reaching Eramalloor. Instead of coming to the city to catch trains, people from the coastal areas can effortlessly access the Ezhupunna railway station where all passenger trains and Kollam-Ernakulam MEMU trains stop,” said K.J Sohan, corporation town planning committee chairman.