New Smart City Road Dug Up After Sewage Leak In Thiruvananthapuram

24 Oct 2025 CW Team

The recently completed Killippalam–Attakulangara stretch in Thiruvananthapuram, developed under the city’s Smart City Mission at a cost of Rs 330 million, has been dug up just months after completion following a major sewage line leak. Residents reported foul odour and water seepage along the stretch, prompting an inspection by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), which confirmed a serious leakage in the decades-old underground sewage pipeline.

Although the road was designed with underground utility ducts to eliminate the need for surface excavation, engineers determined that the damaged section of the old line could only be accessed directly. As a result, parts of the newly paved road were excavated, and traffic was diverted along alternative routes.

The Smart City project had incorporated redesigned drains, underground ducts, LED streetlights, footpaths, and cycle tracks, aiming to improve the city’s urban infrastructure. However, residents expressed frustration that such a high-cost project had to be reopened so soon, citing poor coordination among implementing agencies such as the Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Limited (SCTL), KWA, Kerala Road Fund Board, and the city corporation.

A senior SCTL official acknowledged public dissatisfaction, assuring that repair work is being coordinated with KWA to restore the road quickly. “We understand the concerns of the public. The restoration work will be completed on priority, with minimum disruption to the surrounding infrastructure,” the official said.

Corporation officials confirmed that a departmental meeting would be convened to finalise the repair plan and develop protocols to prevent similar issues in future urban development projects.

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