Bicentenary memorial court construction moves at snail’s pace

KOZHIKODE: For the last four years the construction of the bicentenary memorial court complex has virtually come to a standstill with government authorities not taking any interest in resuming the construction work that began on January 26, 2011.

Recently the Urangal Labour Contract Corpor-ative Society stepped forward with their consent to undertake the project after getting the quotation sanctioned from the public works department, but the company is yet to get the government nod for resuming the work.

Even though the PWD has initiated several major construction activities in the city during the last four years, the initiative has not been taken by the department to complete the work.

The court complex was expected to complete its work within two years from January 26, 2011. “Since the department failed to take any steps to resume the work, the government has spent lakhs for the construction of some walls and pillars for the court complex, which in the near future is not expected to be opened”, said a senior official at the district court.

According to the Bar Association members, the government alone spends more than Rs 30,000 as rent for the district family court here and other expenses for the rented building, which could have been saved if the new complex was opened for them.

As per the engineers design, the six-storey complex will comprise seven courts including the family court, judges’ chamber, clerk’s room, record room and adequate parking space, thereby bringing all the departments and wings of the district court under one roof.

“The proposed project was made during the state budget announcement in the year 2008- 09 and since no officials took the initiative to move ahead with the complex project, ULCCS suggested its willingness to complete the project, but no response has been received yet”, said Abilash, an official with ULCCS.