Date:28/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/28/stories/2006022821190300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

First phase of civil station to be completed by March

Staff Reporter

Chandy inaugurates reconstructed Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road

ADORNED IN NEON: The newly installed streetlights illuminate the renovated Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday evening. Photo: S. Gopakumar

Thiruvananthapuram: The first phase of the construction of a civil station at Kudappanakkunnu will be completed by March, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced here on Monday. He was speaking after inaugurating the reconstructed Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road.

He stressed the need for time-bound completion of development projects.

Mr. Chandy said the development of the Vizhinjam container terminal and the international airport would change the face of the city. "The Prime Minister will inaugurate both the projects in March," he said. Mr. Chandy said blind opposition to development projects had proved to be a curse for the State.

Mr. Chandy admitted that the proposal to set up a High Court Bench in the capital city had not made much headway. "In the absence of the Kerala High Court's consent, the Government has its hands tied." He added that the Government would reiterate the demand for the Bench at a meeting of Chief Ministers and High Court Chief Justices to be held in New Delhi on March 10.

Mr. Chandy earlier unveiled a plaque and switched on the streetlights to inaugurate the renovated road.

Presiding over the function, Minister for Public Works M.K. Muneer said 1,200 saplings would be planted along roadsides in the city. He said all the 42 km of roads under development would be provided with paved footpaths. Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority chairman P.K. Venugopal said the land acquisition for the widening of MG Road from LMS junction to Thampanoor would be completed by March.

Advisor to the Government on Urban Renewal Babu Jacob said the construction of a new fly-over across MG Road at Thakaraparambu would begin by mid-April. A new service road on the Thampanoor-Panavila-Bakery Junction route will be opened this week, he added.

Mayor C. Jayan Babu, MLAs K. Mohankumar and B. Vijayakumar, Deputy Mayor V. Jayaprakash, project advisor N.S. Sreenivasan and Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company vice-president Anilkumar Pandala were among those who spoke.