The prolonged delay in finishing the new Aluva market has emerged as the defining electoral battleground in the ongoing Aluva municipality elections. With the project missing multiple deadlines, the political blame game between the ruling front and the opposition has intensified, putting the fate of displaced shopkeepers at the forefront of the campaign.
A High-Stakes Project Mired in Delays
The ambitious three-storey market, envisioned to span a massive 1.82 lakh square feet, carries a hefty price tag of Rs 48.32 crore. The funding is a joint effort, with the Central government contributing Rs 28.94 crore and the state government providing Rs 19.29 crore. Despite a formal inauguration ceremony held in May this year, the physical construction remains incomplete, leaving vendors in a lurch.
The facility is designed to be a modern hub, promising 88 shops, a dedicated restaurant, a supermarket, cold storage for meat and fish, and an integrated sewage treatment plant. The construction contract has been awarded to the renowned Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society.
Political Crossfire Over Funding and Accountability
Opposition leaders, primarily from the LDF, have launched a sharp critique against the ruling UDF-led council. Opposition councillor Sreelatha Vinod Kumar accused the municipality of backtracking on its initial promise to fund the project independently and now relying entirely on central and state assistance.
"The municipality has no role in the construction of the current market," Kumar stated, highlighting the plight of displaced shopkeepers. "The shopkeepers were treated without empathy, and the situation will change if the LDF comes to power." She pledged that an LDF council would ensure adequate space and dignified rehabilitation for all affected vendors.
The Ruling Front's Defence and Promises
In response, the incumbent UDF is campaigning on the claim that it was their administration that successfully secured the crucial funds and set the construction in motion. Municipal chairperson M O John expressed confidence in the UDF's return to power, arguing that voters seek continuity in governance.
John made a significant promise, asserting that "the market would be completed within six months if the UDF returns to power." This pledge is central to their campaign, positioning them as the front that initiated the work and is best placed to see it through to completion.
As polling day nears, the unfinished market stands as a concrete symbol of unfulfilled promises, with both sides vying to convince the electorate that they hold the key to its timely delivery and the welfare of Aluva's business community.
