The Kerala High Court directed the Secretary to the Government, Public Works Department, Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram, to consider early disposal of file pertaining to the construction of ‘Yendayar Bridge’.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Murali Purushothaman issued notice on a Petition filed for the following reliefs:
(i) To issue a writ of mandamus any other appropriate writ, direction or order directing the Respondents authorities to expeditiously commence and complete the reconstruction of “Yendayar Bridge’ within a time frame to be fixed by the High Court; or in the alternative
(ii) To issue a writ of mandamus any other appropriate writ, direction or order directing the Respondents or any other competent Respondent to accord Administrative Sanction and Technical Sanction and complete all other procedural requirements including tendering of work for the reconstruction of ‘Yendayar Bridge’ in a time-bound manner.
The Petitioner, a public spirited person, has approached the High Court seeking a direction to the respondents to commence and expeditiously complete the proposed reconstruction of ‘Yendayar Bridge’, which had collapsed and was completely washed away in the floods that occurred on 16.10.2021.
The further contention is for a direction to respondent Nos.6 and 7 (District Collector and Chairperson of District Disaster Management Authority of Idukki and Kottayam) to forthwith take steps to construct a bailey bridge connecting Kokkayar Grama Panchayat, Idukki and Koottickal Grama Panchayat, Kottayam.
Materials on record disclose that when information was sought for by the petitioner, the Under Secretary, State Public Information Officer, vide letter dated 23.02.2023, has informed the petitioner that, the file pertaining to the proposed construction of ‘Yendayar Bridge’ coming to the tune of Rs.477.90 lakhs has been taken from the Chief Engineer (Bridges) and the same is pending before the Government .
Having regard to the above said information furnished to the petitioner, a direction is issued by the High Court to the Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram (respondent No.1) , to consider early disposal of file which pertains to the construction of ‘Yendayar Bridge’.