KOCHI: With three more deaths reported at the railway crossing near the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) in Ponnekkara recently, residents’ associations have renewed demands to begin construction of the RoB at Edappally immediately. The RoB, which received the state government’s sanction in April, 2013, continues to be caught in red tape.
The project failed to make any progress after a letter by the Under Secretary questioned the need for a new RoB approximately a few kilometres from the existing one.
Ernakulam District Residents’ Association Apex Council (EDRAAC) treasurer K A Francis asserts the need for the new RoB as those patients who arrive from Ponekkara have to crawl behind stationary trains to make their way to the hospital. “There are seven railway lines that the locals have to pass to make their way to the other side of the tracks. The delay in building a railway overbridge has claimed many lives,” Francis said.
Residents’ associations, as well as hospital authorities, have raised suspicions over the cost for the bridge which has been proposed as 154-metres in length and a width of 7.5 metres. The government has estimated a cost of Rs 35 crore for the bridge.
“The project is just being prolonged for some reasons or the other. Earlier, the cost for the project was estimated at Rs 12.83 crores and then suddenly it inflated to Rs 35 crore. This has raised many suspicions,” members of the association said.
The curve at the railway crossing has been identified as a danger spot by the public as people can hardly see the trains that pass through.
“There is a footbridge nearby, but people don’t use it as it ends at the fourth railway track area,” Francis added.
Owing to the absence of a bridge, patients now have to travel an extra 4 km to reach the hospital. The ROB would also be a shortcut for motorists to Paravur from Palarivattom.
K K Suresh Babu, president of Cheranelloor Panchayat, said that he would be forwarding a memorandum to District Collector, Mayor and AIMS authorities to call a meeting to discuss the need for the RoB.