Kerala - Kannur   

Revised estimates sanctioned

KANNUR: The plan and estimate of the Mattul-Madakkara bridge under construction to connect southern part of the Mattul panchayat here to the mainland will be revised.

The State government has decided to revise the original estimate following its approval of the proposal that the number of spans of the bridge be increased from seven as envisaged in the original estimate to 14. Started in 2005, the construction of the bridge which will shorten the distance between the panchayat and the district headquarters by 15 km to 20 km has been left in a state of uncertainty following the demand of the local people that the number of spans should be increased.

Local MLA M. Prakashan told The Hindu that Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac and Public Works Minister Mons Joseph had announced at a recent meeting that the revised estimate was approved. Though the revised estimate was Rs. 29 crore, the figure was likely to be slightly modified because of cost escalation, he said.

As per the original estimate, the bridge was to have seven spans connecting the embankments to be developed on either side. The construction of the bridge, a long-standing demand of the people in the panchayat, has been facing uncertainty following objections raised by local fishermen and environmental activists against constructing embankments. It has been argued by them that the embankments will shrink the width of the river and will be weakened during monsoon season.

The proposal for increasing the number of spans has been submitted in the wake of the objections. The bridge with a carriage way of 7.5 metres and footpath on either side will have 530-metre-long approach on Mattul side and 225-metre-long one on Madakkara side.

The proposal for revision of the estimate of the NABARD-aided bridge project also raised concern about possible delay in completing the works as NABARD does not approve estimate revision of projects assisted by it after the works were awarded. The MLA said that the Finance Minister assured him that the additional amount required for completing the bridge would be provided by the government.

The original estimate was Rs. 11.5 crore, he said.

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