Kerala: Residents worried as AL Jacob ROB stairs detached from main structure

Kochi: The stairs providing access for pedestrians on the A L Jacob Rail Overbridge (ROB) are at risk of collapsing. According to local residents, the structure has detached from the bridge. Given this dangerous situation, residents of the area are planning to launch an agitation. “The entire structure has detached about 20 cm from the bridge. It is unstable and a lot of people are using it daily. It won’t take much time for the structure to collapse and it will be tragic if someone is on it. So, we residents have decided to do something about this and draw the attention of the authorities,” Ajay Kumar, a resident of Udaya Colony, told TNIE. The ROB, commissioned by then chief minister Oommen Chandy in 2013, is an important one that provides access from Gandhinagar to MG Road and vice versa, he said. According to another resident, Ajeesh K S, the side walls of the structure have also collapsed at some places. “There are holes on the walls and it is crumbling,” he told TNIE. Lack of maintenance is the main reason behind this situation. “As the years pass, the soil underneath settles. This happens after every rain and flood. As the soil settles, the structure also sinks. This can be seen from the amount of segregation,” he said. Residents have demanded that the authorities put up warning boards. “It is extremely important that immediate remedial measures are taken to protect the structure,” Ajay said. In 2022, it was found that the ROB had developed cracks in its approach structure after it submerged. The A L Jacob ROB is a shortcut that connects MG Road to places like Kathrikadavu, Kaloor, Thammanam and Kadavanthra.