Kodinada-Balaramapuram road widening: Contractor to be selected within a week, work by Dec

Thiruvananthapuram: The long-pending four-laning of the 1.6-km Kodinada-Vazhimukku-Balaramapuram road stretch is set to move forward, with Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) expected to finalise the contractor within a week. Four companies have participated in the tender, and the technical evaluation is complete, while the financial evaluation is under way.KRFB officials said they would complete the financial evaluation in the coming days, after which they would select the successful bidder within a week. The agreement would be signed immediately after finalising the contractor, with the work order expected to be issued soon. The board is planning to commence construction by Dec, within a month of awarding the contract.Meanwhile, demolition of commercial establishments and shops along the stretch has begun after the completion of pending land acquisition procedures. All outstanding compensation and settlement-related cases, including rehabilitation packages for affected landowners and establishments, have reportedly been settled. The company awarded the demolition contract, has started bringing down structures from Balaramapuram Junction onwards to facilitate road widening.The project involves widening the existing stretch into a four-lane road with a proposed width of around 30.2m. The construction cost is estimated at approximately Rs 32 crore, while the overall land acquisition and compensation package is around Rs 200 crore, including compensation for land and structures.Once construction begins, the contractor will initially focus on shifting existing utilities, including electric poles and underground cables. Drainage construction will follow, after which the actual road-widening work will be taken up. The utility-shifting and drainage works are considered crucial before the existing road can be widened.The project had faced repeated delays over land acquisition and compensation disputes, with some landowners seeking enhanced compensation. The additional financial requirements and pending settlements had held up the process despite the tender being floated earlier.The road widening is expected to ease congestion along the busy Balaramapuram-Vazhimukku corridor and improve connectivity on the Karamana-Kaliyikkavila Road.Stay updated with the latest Thiruvananthapuram news. Download the TOI App.