Title - ROB work at Kotti delayed

KANNUR: The railway overbridge at Kotti near Payyannur was sanctioned by the government but it is yet to be opened because of the delay in completing the last stage of the work.

Though the work of the approach roads and a major part of the overbridge was completed in time, the work of the span over the railway lines is yet to be completed.

This has caused concern over the opening of the bridge, though the Southern Railways had completed most of the work of the 42m stretch.

The work of the bridge began in September 2010.

According to Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala Ltd (RBDCK), which has undertaken the work, most of the work of the 732m structure including the approach roads was completed before March 2012 and the remaining work could be completed only after the Southern Railways complete the work of the spans on their part.

"Since it is the responsibility of the Southern Railways to complete the span over the railway lines, we would be able to do the work of connecting spans from both the ends of the approach roads only after that work is over," Thankachan M T, assistant general manager, RBDCK. He said that the deadline for commissioning the bridge that cost over Rs 14.6 crore, was March 2012.

However, according to railway officials, the work was hit because of the delay in getting the clearance from the Railway Safety Commission. Now that they have got the clearance and the work would be completed soon, he said.

An official said though this is a small portion but it is a time-consuming process. It would also require some restriction on the movement of the trains passing through Payyannur.

Kasaragod MP P Karunakaran said that he would follow up with the authorities to speed up the work because this bridge can improve the road connectivity from Ezhimala and other western parts of Payyannur with the National Highway.