Title - Major Hurdles Yet To Be Crossed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Five major segments of the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP) have hit a roadblock. Thakaraparmbu flyover, Vanchiyoor-Old Collectorate road, Pettah Railway Overbridge, the road near Pattoor cemetery, and the Pazhavangadi-Attakulangara stretch will not be completed on time. Except Thakaraparambu flyover, the work of which has begun, all other works are stuck.  The hurdles before the Thakaraparambu flyover, one of the ambitious projects of CRIP, were removed recently. The work, which was hit over the issue of rehabilitation of traders, took off last month. Piling is progressing. However, it would require two years for the completion of the work. It is the second flyover in the project after the Bakery Junction Flyover.  The work of Thakaraparambu flyover was to begin after the inauguration of the Bakery flyover in January 2010. However, the rehabilitation issue delayed the work for a long time. The flyovers and underpass are expected to ease the traffic congestion in the city during agitations. Trees or Development? This is the major question facing the work of  the Vanchiyoor-Old Collectorate Road. As many as 56 trees need to be cut down for the road development on this stretch. The Forest Department has not given clearance for cutting  the trees. The plan of the TRDCL is to construct slabs above the Amayizhanjan canal to make the stretch a four-lane road. However, the plan is stuck over the issue of trees. Cemetery Issue The Pattoor cemetery is another major hurdle before the development of a stretch on the Airport-MLA Hostel Road. After years of deadlock, the KRFB officials and authorities of both the St Joseph Latin Catholic Church, Palayam, and St Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Pattoor, reached a consensus on the compensation two years ago.  The KRFB even began construction of vaults for the portion of a cemetery which needed to be dismantled for the road work. However, the employees of the nearby Public Health Laboratory (PHL) filed a case against the construction of vaults close to the compound wall of PHL. Following this, the KRFB stopped the work. Rehabilitation Rehabilitation of traders from the Pazhavangadi-East Fort stretch is another major hurdle yet to be crossed. The Government is yet to shift the traders. The TRDCL  upgraded the MG Road till Overbridge. It has declared that the rest of the work cannot be completed until the KRFB hands over the area to it. Pettah Bridge The Railway and the KRFB are yet to reach a consensus on the design of the Railway Overbridge to be constructed at Pettah. Discussions are progressing with the Railway officials. However, the work has been pending for the past several years. Topics: