Kochi: UDF’s monument of corruption - the Palarivattom flyover - would be shoved away completely past this night as demolition works come to an end by Friday. Only three pier caps remain to be taken down after 17 span girders that were chipped away. All the debris was moved to Muttom yard marking completion of major work involved.
The flyover costing Rs 42 crores, was built for an estimated 15-year life span during the tenure of Oomen Chandy govt. However the nexus between ruling leadership, contractors and officials resulted in the bridge becoming a structural nightmare. Just 6 months from its commissioning, critical flaws began to show up along the flyover necessitating a closure in two years time, out of concern for public safety. 17 of the 19 pillars had to be razed down completely and so were all the pier caps.
When LDF government initiated stringent steps against the dangers posed to public if they were to pass the flyover, several officials, the contractors and former PWD minister Ibrahim Kunju were arrested for massive corruption involved. As the structure is being moved away, Ibrahim Kunju continues to remain in remand.
The construction of a new flyover is progressing on parallel with the demolitions. The demolition works, overseen by DARC, are being done by Perumbavur based Pallassery Earth Works for Uralunkal Society. Six diamond cutters were used to cut through the flyover’s girders and tech slabs. Pallasserry Earth Works had earlier informed that the demolition would be complete by end of November. The demolitions were carried out during non-peak hours on the busy route so the public were lease inconvenienced. Works of the new flyover are advancing as per schedule, to reach its completion and commissioning in May.
