The Kerala High Court has summoned the KSEB assistant executive engineer of Ernakulam central subdivision to explain why the board failed to resubmit an application for relocating power poles near Kochi’s Pachalam overbridge, a move intended to ease congestion at the junction.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar directed the officer to appear in person on November 18. The order was issued during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Sujith C Sukumaran of Pachalam, who sought measures to reduce traffic congestion in the area.
The dispute concerns electric poles and related installations near the Pachalam overbridge that extend towards the road. The petitioner submitted that the installations were contributing to traffic snarls at Pachalam junction, where Chathiyath Road intersects Mathai Manjooran Road. Relocating them to railway property was presented before the court as a measure that could ease the bottleneck.
The relocation, however, requires permission from the railway authorities. Earlier in the proceedings, railway authorities had pointed out defects in the KSEB application seeking approval to move the poles to railway property. The High Court had directed KSEB to rectify those defects and submit a revised application by October 14.
When the PIL was taken up again on Wednesday, railway authorities informed the bench that KSEB had not submitted a proper application complying with the earlier direction. The court consequently ordered the assistant executive engineer to appear and explain the reason for the non-compliance.
The case highlights how a relatively small roadside infrastructure change can depend on coordination between multiple public agencies. KSEB controls the electrical installations, while the railway authorities must approve the use of railway property. The court proceedings were initiated after a petitioner sought intervention over the traffic conditions at the junction.
The High Court has adjourned the PIL to November 18 and expressed the expectation that KSEB will submit a proper application by then. The summoned officer is expected to explain the delay and the board’s compliance with the court’s earlier direction.
