HC refuses to interfere in overbridge demolition

KOCHI: No judicial interference in the demolition of the North Overbridge, the Kerala High Court has said.The High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with the ongoing demolition of the Ernakulam North rail overbridge (RoB) in connection with the metro rail project.  However, the court asked the state government to consider how feasible it would be to extend the metro rail project to the Cochin International Airport. To which the state government submitted that the proposal is currently under consideration. A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice C N Ramachandran Nair and Justice P S Gopinathan said this while considering a petition filed by V M Michael, convener, Campaign for Economic in Most Appropriate Transport System for Kochi (CEMATS). The petitioner sought a directive to restrain the district authorities from pulling down the North RoB unless and until alternative routes such as the Thammanam-Pulleppady Road, Salim Rajan Road  overbridge and Goshree-Pachalam (Chathiath Road) are made suitable for public traffic. The entire city will be cut off into two segments if the North RoB is completely demolished, the petitioner pointed out.  He further said that the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, formed to implement the metro rail project, has not been officially considered or sanctioned by the Central Government till date.The petitioner alleged that the state government and its agency, the Kochi Rail Corporation, are engaged in demolition and reconstruction of the North RoB without making alternative arrangements. He further submitted that the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd has not got approval from the Central Government under the Metro Rail Act 1978. The state government submitted that an alternative arrangement has been made and the demolition of the main bridge will be taken up only after completing the construction of the new side bay.  The petitioner submitted before the court that the Metro Rail project was a dream and it is difficult to say when it will be completed. Then the court said that the dream is becoming a reality. “The petitioner is questioning the wisdom of the Metro Rail project; but the apprehensions are out of place,” the court said. The court adjourned the hearing on the case for one month.