As Sabarimala season nears, agencies told to speed up key works

With less than two months left for the annual Sabarimala— pilgrimage season to begin, authorities have stepped up pressure on agencies to speed up road and infrastructure works, directing that roadworks taken up under the Sabarimala Package be completed within the stipulated time.

The district development committee, which met in Pathanamthitta recently, sought urgent action on delays in works being executed by the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB). Ranni MLA Pazhakulam Madhu called for alignment inspection and utility shifting for the Ranni bridge to be completed within a week. With the pilgrimage season nearing, Mr. Madhu also sought the establishment of a traffic police station at Vadasserikkara before the season begins.

The Aban Junction flyover in Pathanamthitta town too came under scrutiny, with Abin Varkey, MLA, issuing strict instructions to the KRFB executive engineer to complete the work on an urgent basis.

A meeting involving the District Collector and the MLAs of Adoor and Aranmula will be held to discuss the construction of the Vayarpuzha bridge. Mr. Varkey also sought faster completion of works on the Pathanamthitta General Hospital.

Stray dog menace in Kottayam

Meanwhile, Kottayam District Collector Chetan Kumar Meena announced a meeting of elected representatives and officials of local self-government institutions to review the stray dog menace in the district.

The move followed concerns raised at the district development committee meeting over the rising number of stray dogs in various parts of the district, including on the Kottayam Medical College campus.

Participants also flagged the dumping of food waste by visitors to the the medical college hospital (MCH) on its premises, saying it was contributing to the stray dog problem. Authorities will examine measures, including the possibility of setting up a community kitchen, to address the issue.

Officials of the National Highways Authority of India told Francis George, MP, that boundary demarcation as part of the survey for widening the national highway would be completed within two weeks. Mr. George also called for speeding up works under the MP Local Area Development Scheme.

He also sought steps to divert some Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) night services through the Kottayam MCH and via the road in front of the Kottayam railway station.

Ahead of the Sabarimala Mandalam season, Rony K. Baby, MLA, sought urgent completion of road repair works in the Kanjirappally constituency. Poonjar MLA M.J. Sebastian too called for a special meeting to review Sabarimala preparations in his constituency.

Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital authorities said they were examining steps to introduce an ePOS system for services at the institution.

Complaints over laboratories and scanning centres near the MCH allegedly charging excessive fees also came up for discussion. The authorities said the possibility of excluding institutions that charge excessive fees from MCH schemes would be discussed at the Medical College Development Committee meeting. The District Medical Officer said all such institutions had been instructed to prominently display the rates of various tests.