Smart road works in city unlikely to meet revised June 15 deadline, ET RealEstate
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The development of smart roads under the Smart City project in the state capital has encountered another roadblock as the construction of crucial roads may not be completed by the revised deadline of June 15. The primary cause of the delay is due to the alleged frequent sewerage line bursts during the excavation process for laying utilities underground.
On Friday night, a significant sewerage line burst in the Vazhuthacaud area, halting the work compounding the challenges faced by the contractors. The incident is one of the many that have disrupted the schedule, making it increasingly difficult to meet the completion targets. Earlier, the incessant rains had disrupted the work, which prompted authorities to extend the deadline to June 15.
However, Smart City officials have acknowledged the setbacks but remain focused on making the roads navigable by the deadline. “We are working around the clock to ensure that the roads are at least navigable by June 15,” a project spokesperson said. “However, other associated works will need to continue beyond this date,” the spokesperson added. Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) and Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) are working closely with Kerala water authority (KWA) to ensure that the broken sewerage pipelines are repaired and replaced on time.
“Earlier, there was some delay on the part of KWA in replacing the damaged lines. But the work has gained momentum now after the rains kept it away for three days,” a KRFB official said.
Meanwhile, despite the collaborative efforts, the inordinate delay in completion has frustrated residents and local business owners, who have been dealing with extended periods of construction-related disruptions. “Every time there is a delay, it impacts our lives and our businesses,” said Jayakumar K, a shop owner in Vazhuthacaud. “We were hoping that the Smart City project would bring improvements, but right now, it is causing more problems,” he added.
The Smart City project, aimed at modernizing Thiruvananthapuram’s infrastructure, includes the development of several smart roads equipped with advanced utilities and services. However, the frequent sewerage line bursts have exposed the underlying challenges of integrating new systems with the city’s existing infrastructure. Each burst requires immediate attention, repair, and sometimes a complete overhaul of the affected sections, causing significant delays.
In an effort to address these issues, general education minister V Sivankutty convened a meeting last month with district administration, KRFB, and Smart City officials. During the meeting, a revised deadline of June 15 was set for the completion of all smart road projects under the Smart City initiative.
