CPM Ernakulam district secretary C M Dinesh Mani said that the land at Bolgatty which was allotted to M A Yusufali of EMKE Group should be taken back. “The land was given to the EMKE Group at very low cost. There are Coastal Regulation Zone violations too. The land has to be used by the Cochin Port Trust for its developmental activities,” Dinesh Mani told Express.
Responding the reports of the EMKE Group’s plan to withdraw the Convention Centre project at Bolgatty, he said that the project should be abandoned. “The land is intended for the development of the CPT and should be used solely for that purpose. It should not be given to private firms or persons for real estate projects,” he added.
Meanwhile, in another development, the CPM has demanded that the funding for the flyover at Edappally should be completely met by the EMKE Group. Opening of the LuLu Mall at the busy Edappally Junction, with entries to two national highways, has added to the traffic woes of the city, the party has said. “After the mall was opened, the traffic congestion has become severe. We are demanding that the EMKE Group, which owns the mall, should completely bear the construction cost of the flyover at the spot. This will help in the development of the city, as the money already allotted by the government can be used for constructing the flyover at Vyttila,” CPM leaders demanded in Kochi a couple of days ago.
Initially, the state had allotted Rs 180 crore for constructing the flyover at Edappally. Later the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation projected the cost at Rs 86 crore.