Revised Project Removes Obstacles on Pavangad Access Road

Construction of the approach road to the Pavangad-Puthiyappa Railway Bridge (Pavangad ROB) is set to resume after the Road and Bridge Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK) approved a revised design to overcome obstacles posed by underground power cables.

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has issued a notice to the Public Works Department (PWD) directing it to stop piling work after underground power cables of 110 kV and 11 kV were found running through the area where the approach road was being constructed. The cables were discovered during trial piling work.

Initially, KSEB proposed to move about 350 meters of cables from the construction site to the access road. The move is estimated to cost around ₹5.5 crore, creating a significant additional financial burden and making it difficult to complete the approach road using already sanctioned funds.

RBDCK subsequently explored an alternative to avoid displacement of the 110 kV cable. As per the revised design, the number of piles will be increased in areas where the high voltage cable passes under the proposed access road. At four sites, the number of piles will be increased from three to four, which will allow construction to continue without damaging the underground cable.

The revised design will also reduce the length of cable that needs to be moved, thereby reducing additional costs. RBDCK approved a structural modification to allow for the construction of an access road within the existing site.

However, the 11 kV cable will have to be moved. KSEB submitted an estimate of Rs 38 lakh to RBDCK for cable relocation. The construction work is expected to begin once the necessary clearance is given by the PWD.

The Pawangad ROB was built 11 years ago at a cost of approximately ₹5.7 crore. However, due to the lack of an access road, it remained unusable. The state government had sanctioned the construction of the approach road at a cost of ₹12.82 crore more than a year ago.