Althara-Chenthitta road: KRFB invites tenders

04 Oct 2023 CW Team

The development of the first stretch of what is slated to be the longest smart road in the capital city, as part of the Smart City Mission project, faces potential delays due to a lack of bidders. The project, spanning from Althara near Vellayambalam to Chenthitta near Killipalam via Vazhuthacaud and Thycaud, failed to attract bidders even after the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), the project's executing agency, initiated e-tender processes five times.

The most recent e-tender, issued last month, received no participation during the opening process held last week. Consequently, the KRFB has initiated a sixth tender and established a new deadline, which is set for October 7. In an effort to encourage bidder participation, the agency has structured the tender as a 'composite tender,' combining both construction and electrical works. The tender is scheduled to open on October 9.

Sources have revealed that contractors have now expressed interest in the project, primarily due to a change in the original plan from constructing a concrete road to a black-topped road, conforming to Indian Road Congress standards. The project entails the use of BM (Bituminous Macadam) and BC (Bituminous Concrete) tarring methods.

The proposed 4.2-kilometer road stands as the longest planned smart road in the city, to be constructed in two segments: a 3-kilometer section from Althara to Chenthitta, and a 1.2-kilometer stretch from Killipalam to Attakulangara. Initially scheduled for completion in June 2023, the project faced delays that prompted the cancellation of the contract by KRFB. The new deadline for project completion has been extended to June 2024.

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..