THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even after a year of inauguration and spending Rs 7.5 crore, the Maruthamkuzhy bridge is yet to get the promised Light-emitting Diode (LED) lights. Once darkness descends, the nightmare starts for the motorists, while the authorities are turning a blind eye to the plight with the City Corporation and Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) passing the buck.
“Our demand is to arrange the lights at the earliest, so that it will not cause inconvenience to the riders anymore. Initially, it was said that floodlights would be installed on either side along the bridge, but later, the authorities said that the LEDs will be arranged,” said Sasthamangalam ward councillor G Suresh Kumar.
The responsibility of fitting the lights along the bridge rests with the City Corporation. But a Corporation official said that according to the scheme of Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), fitting lamps is their concern and if the KRFB does not do the work, the civic body would take it up. Whereas, a KRFB official made it clear that it was up to the Corporation to set up the lights.
Corporation Works Standing Committee chairperson V S Padmakumar said that he would look into the issue and would take the necessary action at the earliest. Some 30 lights will be required to ensure proper lighting of the bridge. The 106.32 metre-long Maruthamkuzhy bridge spanning the Killiyar has a 325-metre long approach road on the Maruthamkuzhy side and a 65-metre road on the Sasthamangalam side. The total cost of the project was Rs 7.5 crore.