PWD lethargy delays key projects in district

Kochi: At least half a dozen key projects in Ernakulam district for which even fund allocation was done are facing inordinate delay due to the lethargic attitude of the Public Works Department (PWD).

From setting up of the Cochin Cancer Research Centre operation theatre to infrastructure renovation of the Maharaja's and the Government Law College and repairing of key roads, including those which got deteriorated during the last floods and construction of overbridges, the lackadaisical attitude of the government arm has resulted in the activities getting delayed by two to three years.

“See the case of the Atlantis RoB project ent-rusted with the RBDCK, which comes under the PWD. The fund allocation of '70 crore has been done since 2016 and even 70 per cent of the requir-ed land was handed over. Yet the work is yet to start,” said Ernakulam MLA Hibi Eden.

“Similar is the case with Vaduthala RoB, Vaduth-ala-Perandoor bridge  and the Korangotta –Vaduth-ala bridge, among others, which are nowhere near realisation despite being entrusted with the PWD. This should be seen against the completion of Pachalam RoB by DMRC in one and a half years after the project was conceived,” he said.

Another PWD project that has suffered inordinate delay despite 90 per cent of the work got completed is the Kumbalam-Nettoor-Kundannoor bridge. “A major part of bridge construction was completed over a year ago. But the PWD is yet to complete the approach road works. The completion of the bridge would have resolved the traffic congestion at Kundanoor where the flyover work is progressing,” said Suneela Siby, chairperson, Maradu Municipa-lity.

The PWD is yet to undertake repair of roads in the district which got deteriorated in floods in August. As per its report nearly 400 kms of roads got damaged, especially in rural areas such as North Pravur and Aluva.

In the health sector, the delay in setting up of the CCRC Operation Theatre is affecting the patients. After so much of pressure from various quarters an MoU was signed between Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) authorities and the CCRC authorities to set apart one operation theatre (OT) of EMC for CCRC operations. 

Though the PWD was entrusted with the renovation works of the OT a year ago before handing it over to CCRC, the work is yet to be completed. Now CCRC surgeons are forced to go to General Hospital to do surgeries. CCRC has three cancer surgeons now whose service is now under utilised though there is rise in cancer cases. More surgeons are set to be recruited.

In another instance, the CCRC authorities had to backtrack after entrusting PWD with the construction of the mini auditorium with projector and screen  at a cost of Rs 13 lakh.

 An advance of Rs 3 lakh was earlier given to PWD for executing it but in May this year it was adjusted against the expense for stone laying function of CCRC after PWD failed to execute the project.  Later the project was completed under the Corporate Social Respon-sibility Scheme of Mary Matha Constructions by the company itself. 

Interestingly several portions of the existing CCRC building completed by PWD is leaking making the situation difficult for patients, doctors and staff. 

The Cathlab project of Ernakulam Governm-ent Medical College at a cost Rs Rs 10 crore is hanging fire for long because PWD has failed to build the lift for making it operational in an upstair.

Meanwhile, the renovation work of buildings at the Maharajas College and the Government Law College too have got delayed despite allocation of funds.

“The renovation of old college building is one of the requisites for getting the National Assessment and Accreditation Coun-cil (NAAC) accreditation. Though, Rs 2.5 crore has been allocated to PWD, the work is yet to start. This even as the NAAC assessment is due to fall in January or February. The boys’ hostel maintenance is another activity needed to be taken up by the PWD. We’ve already handed over Rs 1.3 crore for this,” said a senior official of the Maharaja's College.

Similarly, the Rs 1 crore project to renovate the historic Kochi Assembly Hall belonging to the royal era at the Ernakulam Government Law College too is pending though conceived during the tenure of the previous UDF government. The Palarivattom flyover completed by RBDCK under PWD is now filled with potholes.