After a two-decade wait, a significant development is set to take place in Guruvayur, a bustling Hindu pilgrimage hub in South India. On November 14, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the long-awaited rail-over-bridge (ROB) at 7 pm, presided over by Public Works Minister P A Muhammad Riyas, as announced by Guruvayur MLA N K Akbar.
The path to this inauguration has been marked by numerous hurdles and controversies. The demand for the ROB in Guruvayur dates back at least two decades, but it wasn’t until 2016 that the project received its initial allocation of Rs 30 crore in the state budget. Design complications arose initially, with plans to land the ROB near the Manjulaal junction on the eastern side of the Sree Krishna Temple, where four major roads converged. However, objections from devotees, religious organizations, and merchants led to a redesign and eventual approval.
Subsequently, the project faced challenges related to land acquisition. A method similar to that employed for the Kochi Metro, with a fixed price of Rs 12 lakh per cent, was chosen. While most landowners agreed, half a dozen filed objections with the Kerala High Court, causing a two-year delay.
Construction commenced in January 2021 after land acquisition, with piling work starting in December. This progress, however, brought disruptions as the railway crossing had to be closed and opened frequently, resulting in protests from opposition parties demanding a faster completion of the work, particularly the BJP and its affiliated groups.
Yet another delay occurred due to the installation of a superstructure girder above the railway track. The ruling party claimed 90% of the work was complete and blamed the central government for the girder’s delay, suggesting political motivations were involved.
Actor-politician Suresh Gopi of the BJP entered the fray during a visit to Guruvayur Temple, attributing the delay in the ROB work to incomplete approach roads, which he held as the state government’s responsibility. He claimed his intervention expedited railway works and challenged LDF representatives to a debate, which drew both support and criticism.
Guruvayur MLA Akbar defended the state government’s role, emphasizing that apart from the girder installation, the railway authorities had limited influence over the ROB project.
The Guruvayur ROB, funded by KIIFB, is a significant achievement, becoming the first of ten ROB projects in Kerala to reach completion. It spans a length of 517.32 meters, with a width of 10.15 meters, and includes a 1.5-meter footpath adhering to BMBC standards. The old road will be repurposed as a four-meter-wide service road, and an open gym will be established under the over-bridge using MLA funds.
This inauguration marks the end of a long and eventful journey, finally bringing the Guruvayur ROB to fruition after two decades of anticipation and adversity.
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