KOCHI: The approach road for Pullepady Overbridge has met with yet another roadblock. The road does not find any mention in the State Budget released by the government. The Chief Minister had earlier announced a sum of Rs 25 crore for the approach roads from Pullepady Overbridge to Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road and MG Road. The Thammanam-Pullepady Road will be vital for traffic diversion, if the North Overbridge is to be demolished. But now, the road remains under-utilised owing to lack of connectivity. However, the officials at the Corporation dismiss the issue of lack of budget allocation as a problem of nomenclature. “The government has allocated `25 crore in the Budget for preliminary works of Metro Rail construction. This money is meant for the Pullepady approach road,” Town Planning Standing Committee chairman K J Sohan said. However, the officials at the Metro Rail remain ignorant of the development. “The fund is for the initial setting up of offices. But it is flexible. We can re-appropriate the funds if some other project is already in the offing,” said Special Officer of Kochi Metro Rail Project Tom Jose. While the uncertainty on the funds remain, some allege that it might just be too little a sum for any concrete action on the bridge. “People have given around 16 acres of land to the government for setting up of the approach road. They will have to be given concession in terms of FIR transfer, building construction etc. Thus land acquisition along with the construction would cost the government at least `50 crore. Before all these, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the roads has to be approved by the government. As of now that is not yet completed,” said the Former Town Planning Committee Chairperson, Sunil Kumar.
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