Elevated highway: KSEB denies role in EHT wire shifting delay; blames NHAI contractor

Kochi: Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has denied any lapse on its part in the delay suffered to the shifting of extra high tension (EHT) lines that has affected the elevated highway construction works on the Aroor stretch and instead blamed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) contractor Ashoka Buildcon for failing to carry out the work in time.TOI had reported on the issue related to the shifting of EHT wire before Aroor Residency Hotel, in which the NHAI authorities blamed KSEB for delay in "granting shutdown" permission. The two agencies also differed on who should erect the temporary line, a condition put forward by KSEB as a prelude to shifting the EHT line."The shifting of EHT lines is being executed entirely by NHAI's engineering, procurement and construction contractor, Ashoka Buildcon. KSEB's role is strictly limited to technical supervision. All construction activities, including the procurement of new towers and establishment of temporary bypass systems, fall under the contractor's scope," KSEB said in a statement.At a high-level meeting chaired by the PWD secretary on Jan 16, it was noted that all hurdles were cleared. However, the contractor failed to meet the scheduled deadline of Jan 9 to install two towers at Aroor Junction, it added."The primary bottleneck is the contractor's refusal to set up a separate bypass at Aroor Residency. Despite funds being allocated for independent systems at both Aroor Junction and Aroor Residency, the contractor is waiting to dismantle the Junction bypass to reuse materials for the Residency site. This "one-after-the-other" approach has stalled progress," the agency said.Despite KSEB's repeated instructions and review meetings, the contractor has failed to honour its commitment to complete the works by March 31, it said.The completion of the ambitious 12.75km Aroor-Thuravoor elevated highway, set to be the country's longest single-pillar skyway, has been delayed due to the EHT wire shifting issue."The KSEB insisted on erecting temporary bypass lines in the EHT line shifting stretches, which wasn't in our original scope of work as per the agreement," a senior NHAI official said.