Work on railway bridge yet to resume

T'puram: Construction of the railway bridge at Mettukada linking Valiyasala and Thycaud has remained stalled for nearly 18 months, causing severe inconvenience to residents and commuters along the busy stretch.The project, aimed at improving connectivity between Valiyasala, Thycaud and Pappanamcode, began about a year and a half ago. However, after the initial phase, work slowed significantly and has since remained largely inactive, raising concerns among locals. Residents living near the construction site say the area is constantly covered with red dust from the work site. Houses, trees and plants in the neighbourhood are reportedly coated with dust, while dust clouds are visible throughout the day and night. Safety concerns have also been raised at the site. A deep pit dug near the old bridge for pillar construction remains open and partially filled with concrete and steel reinforcements. With no proper diversion in place, commuters travelling between Valiyasala and nearby areas are forced to pass through the construction zone. Recently, a motorcyclist sustained grievous injuries after falling into one of the pits. Despite the incident, vehicles continue to pass through the area due to the absence of safety barriers or warning signs. Ward councillor G Venugopal alleged that the project lacked proper planning from the beginning. He said residents were facing severe dust pollution, traffic congestion and safety risks. According to him, dust pollution has triggered respiratory problems and other health issues, forcing some families to temporarily move out of their homes. Adding to the concerns, 36 concrete pillars constructed during the initial phase were later demolished after changes were made to the bridge alignment. The debris remains piled up at the site, posing further risk to residents and commuters. A senior Southern Railway official said the bridge design is yet to receive final technical approval after engineers found loose soil conditions at the site, requiring changes to the foundation and structural design. Venugopal warned that residents would launch protests if the project continues to remain stalled.