Hostel worth Rs 4 crore left unused

KOCHI: A Public Works Department (PWD) hostel, in Kakkanad, worth Rs 4 crore is left unused, owing to the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities. The hostel was inaugurated, a year back, with much fanfare by the then-PWD Minister M Vijayakumar. The hostel has not been used since its inauguration.Excise Minister K Babu, who was also present during the inauguration said, “I pointed it out on that occasion itself that this hostel would serve the purpose only if it is provided with all facilities. However, the then-ministry inaugurated the building sans any facilities, which later became the major impediment to making it functional.”PWD officials are of the opinion that they could not take any steps further until and unless they get a sanction from the government. “The department needs administrative sanctions from the government.  We have already submitted an estimate of Rs 46 lakh for furnishing the rooms as double bedrooms and Rs 25 lakh to furnish the rooms as single bedrooms. Unfortunately, the proposal is still pending with the government,“ said a PWD department official. He also opined that only the structure was complete. There are many other works that have to be carried out on the buildings. Various posts also have to be created to run the hostel.“It was a hasty inauguration.  Only the structure was completed. There are many more works to be carried out on the building like creation of posts. This issue has to be sorted out before making the hostel operational,” sources said.Asked about it, PWD Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju said, “The hostel has come into my notice and the government will take up the issue at the earliest.”The sources with the PWD department also said that the number of women seeking admission to the hostel is increasing day-by-day. “When the news of its inauguration was published in newspapers, a lot of people came here seeking accommodation,” sources said. There are about 96 rooms in the hostel and the building looks modern.  The hostel is also luring a lot of people as the hostel rent is ought to be minimal  for it is a government undertaking.