Lack of staff to hit Kochi Metro work

 

Kochi: Demarcating and evaluating the land required for the Kochi Metro rail project has become a matter of concern for the district administration, thanks to its shortage of manpower.

 

According to officials, acquisition of land in a few places are likely to be delayed  due to the shortage of staff in the revenue-survey department. Currently, only two surveyors are working for the project as against the four personnel allocated under the metro rail tahsildar.

 

“Uncertainty looms large over the time-bound  survey of a 78 cents near the South Railway station for the metro rail corridor and another 38 cents near Companyppadi in Aluva for setting up a metro station’’, they said.

 

Further, they pointed out that works on the 450- metre long flyover at Edappally was likely to be delayed as the district administration was yet to hand over the 2.08 acres of land required for the project. Acknowledging the issues, District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareed said the district administration would soon add 20 personnel to the existing strength of 100 surveyors. 

 

“Noting the shortage of surveyors for the metro project, we have forwarded a request in this regard to the Revenue Department,’’ he said.

 

Meanwhile, metro sources said the issue was yet to be raised at land acquisition review meetings of the project. 

 

“We are yet to ascertain how this will affect the project since we have not been informed of a staff crunch’’, they said.