Though the Hudco project, which aims to provide drinking water to
Vypeen and West Kochi areas was commissioned in 2007, the laying of
pipeline along the Karanakkodam stretch remained incomplete due to
difficulties in carrying out the work across the railway line in the
area. So, water supply through the Hudco pipeline to Perumanoor pump
house, which caters to the west Kochi area, had to be stopped. “The work
has been completed on Monday evening. The work across the railway line
was finished last month. So, we will be able to supply water to the pump
house at Perumanoor through the Hudco line soon,” said P K
Govindankutty, executive engineer, KWA, Pallimukku. “To overcome the
difficulties in laying pipes across the railway line, we used the push
through method,” he said.

Once commissioned, the project will
solve the potable water problems in areas like Palluruthy, Edakochi,
Kumbalanghi, Fort Kochi and Mattanchery areas. “As of now, around 5
million litres a day (MLD) is being supplied to the west Kochi area.
With the completion of the pipeline at Karanakkodam, the water supply to
the area will be doubled,” Govindankutty said.

Though KWA had invited tenders for laying pipes along the 766-metre stretch, covering Karanakkodam Junction to Chemmath area thrice,
the government had quashed all of them citing excess rates quoted by
contractors. In 2010, contractors quoted 36% above the estimated cost of
Rs 2.31 crore, which the government has now approved after realizing
that there were no takers for the project at that rate.