TRIDA budget moots ring road, IT corridor

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 3. The development of a ring road starting from Karyavattom and ending at Vizhinjam on the National Highway and the development of an `IT Corridor' between Kazhakkoottom and Kovalam are among the highlights of the 2001-02 budget of the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority.

Detailing the proposals in the budget, which envisages a revenue of Rs.126.73 crores and an expenditure of Rs.128.78 crores, the TRIDA chairman, Mr. C. Jayan Babu, told presspersons here today that the projects would be undertaken under the Build-Operate- Transfer arrangement. A sum of Rs.10 crores would be raised as Government loan and Rs. 53 crores through loans from financial institutions.

Improving the road facilities in the city was being given top priority. The ring road, for which Rs.1 crore had been initially earmarked, would pass through Karyavattom, Mannanthala, Peroorkada, Vattiyoorkavu, Peyad, Thachottukavu, Naruvamoodu, Punnamoody and Peringammala. However, the final route of the ring road, with a length of 36 km and width of 21 m, would be decided after eliciting suggestions from the public.

While developing the ring road, the backward areas in the contiguous panchayats would be identified. Basic infrastructure would be provided in about 2,500 acres thus identified under a `Land Bank Project'.

Under the project, it would be possible for TRIDA to provide necessary land to various institutions for commercial purposes, as well as provide plots for house construction. This would help ease the shortage of residential areas in the city as well as divert new developmental projects to the suburban areas.

About 1,000 acres would be identified on either side of the National Highway Bypass for the IT Corridor project, termed `Infrastructure development project for information technology and tourism related activities with public and private sector investment'.

In order to reduce the traffic congestion during the Attukal Pongala festival, the existing road linking the Kaimanam, Maruthoorkadavu, Kalady, Chiramukku and Attukal junctions would be widened to 21 m. A sum of Rs.2.5 crores has been earmarked for this.

The arterial MG Road would be widened to 25 m and the affected persons would be rehabilitated, for which an expenditure of Rs.15 crores was envisaged. The required amount would be raised through a loan from the Asian Development Bank.

There are also proposals to widen the Kowdiar-Kuravankonam-Pattom-Pottakkuzhy-Murinjapalam-Medical College-Ulloor road to 21 m at a cost of Rs. 2.6 crores and the Ulloor-Kochulloor road to 24 m, the Kowdiar-Peroorkada road to 21 m.

The budget also proposes to develop the Peroorkada, Vattiyoorkavu, Sreekaryam, Thirumala and Pappanamcode junctions, which are mainly responsible for the traffic congestions in the city. There is also a proposal to construct flyover in Bakery Junction.

The Mayor, Ms. J. Chandra, the TRIDA secretary, Ms. T. K. Radhika, and the Chief Engineer, Mr. K. I. Elias, also attended the press conference.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Sarma denounces Electricity Bill
Next     : Lok Janshakti to take out 'vilambara yatra'