Kerala Road Fund Board initiates smart road tarring phase

The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) announced that the first phase of tarring the Killipalam-Attakulangara road, part of the Smart City project, has commenced. They stated that the road formation works, ductworks, including the shifting of utilities underground, have been completed. They mentioned that despite facing challenges such as waterlogging and soil structure, efforts are being made to finish the tasks as soon as possible. It was noted that this particular stretch requires a proper drainage system due to its susceptibility to waterlogging during rainy seasons, and work on this aspect is also underway. KRFB stated that the goal is to ensure all roads become navigable at the earliest. Previously, the Public Works Department (PWD) minister, PA Mohamed Riyas, had mentioned that the quality upgrade of various roads in the state capital would be completed according to the schedule. The KRFB is overseeing the completion of work on 38 roads in the city. Initially, the contract for the road works was awarded to another agency, but they failed to meet the deadlines, resulting in a significant crisis. Consequently, the state government intervened and excluded them from the project. Last year, the state government meticulously formulated a comprehensive work calendar to ensure the prompt and efficient execution of smart road development projects in the state capital, as part of the Smart City Mission initiative. The minister conducts periodic reviews and holds monthly meetings, while the PWD secretary conducts weekly reviews to ensure timely project completion.