Official apathy behind stalled Kallakkuttykudy bridge project, says Idukki MP
Despite the swift sanctioning of ₹3.6 crore under the Rebuild Kerala Initiative (RKI) for a crucial bridge and road to Kallakkuttykudy, a tribal hamlet in Mankulam panchayat in Idukki, official indifference and contractor inaction have brought the project to a standstill. Approved on June 7, 2024, with a completion deadline of May 16, 2025, not a single brick has been laid — leaving the tribal community stranded yet again. While authorities resort to mere notices, questions arise over accountability in a project. According to sources, official apathy is behind the stalling of the dream project of the local community.
According to local residents, the concrete bridge connecting the Kallakkuttykudy tribal settlement to the outside world was washed away by the devastating flood in August 2018. Afterwards, during rainy seasons, the tribal community would make temporary bamboo bridge so that the children could go to school.
Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose blamed the Devikulam block panchayat, saying that he had allotted ₹20 lakh for the bridge and the block panchayat opposed it. Mr. Kuriakose alleged that the failure of the bridge project is tied to the apathy of the State government. '₹20 lakh had been allotted. But the officials blocked the administrative sanction for the project,' said Mr. Kuriakose.
Under RKI
Meanwhile, Devikulam block panchayat secretary Sunil Sebastian said that Mr. Kuriakose sent a proposal for the project on February 28, 2023. Based on the proposal, the block panchayat conducted an estimate for the project, and the estimated cost was ₹49.9 lakh. 'The project later changed to a footbridge, and administrative sanction was received from the district planning officer on June 19, 2023. After being approached about the final sanction from the district panchayat, it was revealed that the project was included under the RKI project. Based on the direction, the project was cancelled on January 25, 2024,' said Mr. Sebastian.
The official further stated that the block panchayat never opposed the project and had completed all paperwork.
Meanwhile, Vishnukumar G., project director of the Project Management Unit (PMU) of RKI, Thiruvananthapuram, stated that the government allotted ₹3.6 crore for the construction of a bridge and road in the Kallakkuttykudy tribal settlement. 'With this, ₹1.5 crore has been allotted for the construction work of the 32.46-metre-long and 4.5-metre-wide bridge. The contractor signed an agreement for the project on June 7, 2024, and the site was handed over for construction on June 17, 2024. The completion period was fixed at 11 months.'
The official further stated that the contractor failed to commence construction work, and the RKI issued repeated notices to the contractor. 'After completing the agreement period, the RKI is to recover losses from the contractor's responsibility. The project will be re-tendered and rearranged,' said Mr. Vishnukumar.
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Despite the swift sanctioning of ₹3.6 crore under the Rebuild Kerala Initiative (RKI) for a crucial bridge and road to Kallakkuttykudy, a tribal hamlet in Mankulam panchayat in Idukki, official indifference and contractor inaction have brought the project to a standstill. Approved on June 7, 2024, with a completion deadline of May 16, 2025, not a single brick has been laid — leaving the tribal community stranded yet again. While authorities resort to mere notices, questions arise over accountability in a project. According to sources, official apathy is behind the stalling of the dream project of the local community. According to local residents, the concrete bridge connecting the Kallakkuttykudy tribal settlement to the outside world was washed away by the devastating flood in August 2018. Afterwards, during rainy seasons, the tribal community would make temporary bamboo bridge so that the children could go to school. Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose blamed the Devikulam block panchayat, saying that he had allotted ₹20 lakh for the bridge and the block panchayat opposed it. Mr. Kuriakose alleged that the failure of the bridge project is tied to the apathy of the State government. '₹20 lakh had been allotted. But the officials blocked the administrative sanction for the project,' said Mr. Kuriakose. Under RKI Meanwhile, Devikulam block panchayat secretary Sunil Sebastian said that Mr. Kuriakose sent a proposal for the project on February 28, 2023. Based on the proposal, the block panchayat conducted an estimate for the project, and the estimated cost was ₹49.9 lakh. 'The project later changed to a footbridge, and administrative sanction was received from the district planning officer on June 19, 2023. After being approached about the final sanction from the district panchayat, it was revealed that the project was included under the RKI project. Based on the direction, the project was cancelled on January 25, 2024,' said Mr. Sebastian. The official further stated that the block panchayat never opposed the project and had completed all paperwork. Meanwhile, Vishnukumar G., project director of the Project Management Unit (PMU) of RKI, Thiruvananthapuram, stated that the government allotted ₹3.6 crore for the construction of a bridge and road in the Kallakkuttykudy tribal settlement. 'With this, ₹1.5 crore has been allotted for the construction work of the 32.46-metre-long and 4.5-metre-wide bridge. The contractor signed an agreement for the project on June 7, 2024, and the site was handed over for construction on June 17, 2024. The completion period was fixed at 11 months.' The official further stated that the contractor failed to commence construction work, and the RKI issued repeated notices to the contractor. 'After completing the agreement period, the RKI is to recover losses from the contractor's responsibility. The project will be re-tendered and rearranged,' said Mr. Vishnukumar.
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