Title - Decks cleared for Angadippuram railway over bridge

MALAPPURAM: The state government will soon start work on the railway over bridge (ROB) at Angadippuram on the National Highway 213 which is expected to put an end to the traffic congestion at the railway gate here.The ministry of road transport and highways (MRTH) has approved the project recently.Minister for urban affairs Manjalamkuzhi Ali, who represents the Perinthalmanna assembly constituency, told TOI that the formal communication regarding the approval from transport ministry is expected within two days and the government will start the procedures to begin the work as soon as possible.The project has been awaiting the ministry's nod for the last three months. The Roads and Bridges Development Corporation (RBDC) has already submitted a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed ROB to the state government.The DPR of the two-lane ROB was prepared by KITCO, after a survey by a joint team of revenue department and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials, amidst protest from some sections of people. KITCO submitted DPR to RBDC and finalised design, before submitting to PWD.Minister said as there is no need of land acquisition for the construction of the ROB and the work can begin soon. "Protests by some local traders in the area will not affect the progress of the work. We will go ahead with the project as it was a long-pending demand of the public," he said.

The minister blamed the land mafia for the protest against the ROB. The government will not step back from the move. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 12 crore and the work would be completed using state government funds.

The protesters had demanded that the government withdraw from the ROB project as it would adversely affect the flyover-cum-bypass project, to come up at Manathu Mangalam, a few kilometres away from Angadippuram.

Meanwhile, the minister said the government will not drop the flyover-cum-bypass project and work on the project would also commence soon.