Is anyone listening?

Jisha Surya
First Published : 22 Mar 2010

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It seems the deadline set by PWD Minister P J Joseph for the road works under the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP) was not final.
A reality check by ‘Expresso’ has found that the Kuravankonam-Kowdiar Road and the Kowdiar-Narmada Road require a fresh deadline, as it could not meet the official deadline.
A look into the status of both the roads repaired by the private consortium Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Ltd (TRDCL).
Current status: Drainage works are nearing completion on either sides. Even though road works on one side have shown some progress, the other side remains untouched. Levelling has been completed in one-third portion on the one side of the road and now the workers have started applying the wetmix. However, tarring can begin only after the completion of works on both sides. The contractor we met at the work site expressed hope that the works would be over by this month-end.
Official version: Both PWD Chief Engineer Joseph Mathew and vice-president of TRDCL Anil Kumar Pandala said that the work would be completed in March itself.
Expresso verdict: It is impossible to finish the works by March end. The work on one side is yet to begin. When ‘Expresso’ contacted them on March 3, the officials said that the works would be completed before March 15, five days ahead of the official deadline. Now, the deadline has been shifted to March 31. Even though the works are in full-swing, it cannot be completed in just 10 days.
Current Status: Levelling works have started at one end of the road. Digging works ahead of levelling is taking place at the other end. However, there is no work on the other side of the road. Only drainage works have been completed. The contractor at the site said the wetmix would be applied soon and rest of the works, including tarring, would be over by April 10. He said that the non-availability and high cost of raw materials were the reasons for the delay.
Official version: Officials of TRDCL and PWD said that the works would be over by March-end. TRDCL authorities said tarring would take place soon after applying the wetmix and the whole work would be completed within March.
Expresso Verdict: It is impossible to complete the works by March-end. It would take another
20-plus days to complete the work.
jisha@expressbuzz.com