Kerala govt urges swift completion of smart road project

The Kerala state government has issued a directive to Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL), the agency responsible for implementing the smart road project, to expedite all road construction within the specified timeframe. This instruction was given during a high-level meeting led by General Education Minister V Sivankutty and Transport Minister Antony Raju, held to assess the progress of the smart road project's construction work.

According to the latest update provided by SCTL, renovation work on eight out of thirteen roads within the corporation limits has been completed. The construction of drainage systems and underground seepage measures to prevent waterlogging, as well as the installation of water supply pipes and electric cables, have been finished. The roads in the Fort area are expected to be accessible for motor vehicles within a week, with tiling work reaching its final stages.

The construction of Tamil School and Taluk office roads is slated for completion by the end of June. Work on Sree Moolam and Mathrubhumi roads will be finished by July, as construction activities related to the Kerala Water Authority are progressing. Additionally, the laying of sewer lines on the Kothalam-Sreevaraham road is anticipated to be completed by August.

SCTL has partnered with the Public Works Department and the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) to renovate these 13 roads. Of these, Manaveeyam and Kalabhavan Mani Road will be completed by the end of June.

The remaining eleven roads are currently undergoing patchwork under the supervision of KRFB, and they are expected to be completed by the end of June, as informed by the officials to the government. Previously, the state government had set a deadline of May 31 for SCTL to complete all work associated with the project, considering the reopening of schools and the arrival of the monsoon season. However, SCTL was unable to meet this deadline.

SCTL officials have assured that they are making every effort to complete the work as soon as possible. In April, a high-level meeting chaired by Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh urged SCTL to expedite the project's completion.