NHAI, panchayats spar over drainage work on Aroor-Thuravoor stretch

THERE is no end in sight to people's travel woes along the Aroor-Thuravoor stretch, where the construction of the six-lane elevated highway is progressing.

- Krishna Kumar K E @Kochi

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has blamed the four grama panchayats on the 12.75-km-long section of "showing apathy that is affecting the work progress".

The NHAI, in particular, is peeved at the Aroor, Ezhupunna, Kodamthuruth and Kuthiathode panchayats for not giving the nod to implement a drainage outlet plan, which the authority had developed to address waterlogging at several locations along the stretch. It has now shot off a letter to the district collector, requesting urgent intervention to get the necessary approval on a war footing so as to facilitate the completion of the drainage work before the onset of monsoon.