With delays stalking several projects under Smart City Mission, authorities are resorting to shortcuts and reducing their scope and size

MK.SunilKumar@timesgroup.com

Kochi: With the deadline for completing the works under Smart Cities Mission fast approaching, authorities are finding shortcuts for staying on target. The scope of some of the projects have been reduced while some others are likely to undergo changes.

The proposed length of the walkway connecting Metro station at Maharaja’s College ground to Boat Jetty, one of the Smart City projects, has been cut short to avoid further delay.

The project, which started way back in February 2017, and which could have been beneficial to hundreds of commuters, is yet to be completed. Authorities say the project, which was supposed to be completed in six months, got bogged down by land acquisition delays.

“Some agencies whose holdings will have to be taken over for constructing the walkway are not ready to hand over land parcels. We have not been handed over the land owned by Ernakulam Head Post Office and Maharaja’s College Hostel, among others. So, we are planning to complete the stretch till where we have already acquired land. In other areas, we are constructing the walkway on available space,” says an official associated with the project. “The work will be completed in a week,” he adds.

Making matters worse, the stretch along which the works have been completed, are used as parking lots for autorickshaws and motorcycles.

Even while the project faces hurdles, authorities, including the Kochi Corporation, is yet to take any steps to resolve the issue. Officials with the Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML), the special purpose vehicle floated for implementing Smart City projects in Kochi, have also not sought the intervention of people’s representatives for sorting out the problems. “CSML officials haven’t informed me about the difficulties they face to acquire land. Had they informed me, I could have taken up the issue with the Centre as well as the state government,” says Hibi Eden, MP.

Compromises are likely to be made on the project involving the reconstruction of the Ernakulam Market, as well. CSML has earmarked Rs 100 crore for renovating the market. But the authorities have not yet floated tenders for the project as the land required for rehabilitating the merchants who runs the stalls in the market is yet to be identified.

The premises of a school near by the market, which is not functioning now, was identified for the purpose but it was found that a case has been pending before the high court regarding the ownership of the land.

“If we do not get land, we can avoid market reconstruction and just focus on renovation. We have given our suggestion to the CSML in this regard,” sources with Kochi Corporation said. But CSML officials said they haven’t taken any decision so far. Anyway, the project is yet to start rolling.

Contractors unwilling to take up works

Kochi: Though adequate funds have been allotted for completing the projects under Smart City Mission, contractors have been hesitant to take up many of the works. Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) authorities have been forced to retender the works again and again.

The Rs 7.1 crore Marine Drive Walkway project is a case in point. “All the contractors who took part in the tender process quoted above our estimate. We can’t award works at rates above the estimate as Smart City norms don’t allow it. So, we have retendered the project for the fourth time,” an official with CSML said.

“The sidewalls of the walkway need to be protected due to high tide and waves. The contractors claim it is a costly affair. So, no one is ready to take up the work at the current estimate,” the official said.

The same goes for the project to procure sweeping machines for cleaning the streets in the city. “All the firms, which have taken part in the tender procedures so far, are reluctant to take up the work. They are not ready to agree with the condition that they need to operate and maintain the machines for three years. So, we are retendering the project for the third time,” the official said.

The Rs 2 crore project to supply smart portable compactors to store and transport garbage from the city also has met a similar fate. The reason? No firms are ready to operate and maintain the machines.

CMSL authorities had earmarked Rs 32.49 crore for renovation of roads in three divisions of the corporation in Fort Kochi area. But the authorities have not yet been able to award the works to a contractor. As huge amounts need to be spent for bitumen works, contractors are reluctant to undertake roads works, a corporation official said. Now, the CSML is again inviting tenders for the works.

Sewage treatment plant: Another clogged project

Kochi: Another project that has been facing uncertainty is the much-touted vacuum sewer project designed for five divisions of the local body in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry areas. The corporation authorities have not yet been able to identify land for setting up the plant.

The land the authorities had identified earlier for the project is caught in a legal tangle over its ownership. Though the civic body authorities suggested that the plant can be set up on land owned by Cochin Port Trust (CPT), they haven’t conducted any talks with the owners of the holding so far.

At a council meeting held on January 20, mayor Soumini Jain had announced that she will hold a meeting with CPT chairperson for further discussions in one or two days but no progress has been made on that front so far.

The project to renovate Broadway at a cost of Rs 10 crore is also in a limbo. “We had zeroed in on a design. As per the design, there is a roof over Broadway. But CSML authorities want to bring in certain changes in the design. They want to avoid the roof citing chances of fire mishap. But roofed streets can be seen in cities across the world,” sources with the corporation said.

“The roofed design would have attracted more consumers to Broadway. They can park their vehicles somewhere near Marine Drive and walk along the street,” he said.

