TRIDA modifies ring road concept

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 9. The development of a ring road starting from Karyavattom and ending at Vizhinjam on the National Highway announced in the 2001-02 budget of the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority early this month is the latest modification to a concept which was introduced years back in the city masterplan.

The ring road for which the budget had earmarked Rs.1 crore is to connect the eastern areas of the city with the regions to the west and north with the aim of pushing developmental activities to suburban areas.

The proposed road to be constructed under the BOT concept will pass through Karyavattom, Mannanthala, Peroorkada, Vattiyoorkavu, Peyad, Thachottukavu, Naruvamoodu, Punnamoodu and Peringammala. The final route of the ring road, with a length of 36 km and width of 21 m, is to be decided later after eliciting suggestions from the public.

However, the last revised TRIDA masterplan had recommended two ring roads supplemented by radial roads to facilitate the development of peripheral areas and help traffic to bypass the congested city corridors.

The outer ring road proposed extension of the national highway bypass to the eastern side of the city connecting Karyavattom, Chengottukonam, Poudikonam, Peroorkada, Peyad, Uruttamblam, Balaramapuram and Uchakada. It was estimated that this would help to ease the traffic problems caused by the large number of trucks from Tamil Nadu.

The masterplan suggested diversion routes for South-bound traffic from the MC Road, Shencotta, Aryanad and Kattakada. Lorries directly bound for the city were to be terminated at the outskirts and the goods transported through light commercial vehicles.

An inner ring road connecting the NH bypass from Aakkulam and connecting Ulloor, Kesavadasapuram, Ambalamukku, Sasthamangalam, Edpazhanji, Jagathy, Killipalam, Attakulangara, Manacaud and NH bypass was also part of the project. The masterplan stressed the need to strengthen the public transportation system and extend it to suburban areas. It was estimated that this would enable the low income groups to settle in suburban areas, thereby decongesting the city.

The latest TRIDA budget contains the proposal to identify backward areas in the contiguous panchayats while developing the ring road. 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.

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Section  : Southern States
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