Ex-UDF Minister grilled by Vigilance over poor construction

Former Kerala Minister and IUML MLA V K Ebrahim Kunju was on Thursday interrogated by the Vigilance in connection with alleged poor construction quality of a flyover here built during the previous Congress-led UDF rule.

Kunju, then Public Works Department Minister, was summoned and questioned by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau sleuths at their office here as part of the probe ordered by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after the bridge developed cracks a few months ago, official sources said.

The IUML leader dismissed as "politically motivated" the allegations that he was responsible for the poor quality of the bridge which started to crumble just after two-and-half years of its construction.

"The Vigilance team sought some details. I have given those details to them, honestly," Kunju told reporters here after his three-hour long interrogation.

He, however, admitted there were problems in the construction of the 750-metre-long Kochi Palarivattom flyover.

A report submitted by Metroman E Sreedharan had said the flyover built at a cost of Rs 42 crore was supposed to have a life span of over 100 years.

The flyover has been closed for traffic since May 1 after it started developing cracks.