KIIFB allots Rs 117 crore for Vazhayila-Nedumangad project

The proposed four-laning of the Vazhayila-Nedumangad stretch, part of the Thiruvananthapuram-Tenkasi interstate highway, has moved a step forward with the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) allotting a fund of Rs 117 crore for the project. The sanctioned fund will be used for the land acquisition of the first reach of the stretch from Vazhayila to Ettamkallu.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), which is the executing agency of the 11.3km-long road development project, will re-issue the tender for the construction of the Karakulam bridge, which is the only bridge on the stretch.

Though the agency had floated a tender in April, only one bidder participated and hence, it was declared invalid. Subsequently, the tender was re-issued on June 22, but no one participated. The agency will fix the date for the next re-tender soon.

Welcoming the fund grant from the KIIFB, a top official of the KRFB said, “We are in the process of calling a tender again for the Karakulam bridge. It will not be delayed since we need to start the construction of the bridge within two months at the very least. The date for the same will be fixed soon. If there is only one bidder when the next tender is called, we will accept it and go ahead with further proceedings.”

Once the tender is opened, there will be a technical and financial evaluation of the bid before it is finalised. The KIIFB had already allotted a fund of Rs 4 crore for the bridge. The tender for the main carriageway would only be called after the completion of the land acquisition proceedings.