KIIFB allots Rs 117 crore for Vazhayila-Nedumangad project

28 Jun 2023 CW Team

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.

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..