Date:05/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060560351100.htm

Kerala

Elamkulam bridge to be widened soon

K.S. Sudhi

Many more infrastructure projects to be taken up

KOCHI: The widening of the bridge near Elamkulam along the Sahodaran Ayyappan road, the first road infrastructure project to be implemented for Kochi, will begin within a fortnight.

Kochi is banking heavily on the projects that are implemented with the support of the Asian Development Bank and the ones sanctioned by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for materialising its infrastructure dreams. Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) is the nodal agency for the projects sanctioned by the two agencies.

The Rs. 3.5 crore-bridge widening project at Elamkulam will be completed within 18 months. The project is expected to ease the traffic along the road by widening the road and bridge in the area, according to authorities.

Other than the bridge widening project, projects for widening some of the important roads connecting major roads and those between MG road and Chittoor roads have also been planned. These projects will be implemented without acquiring any land. The improvement of the inter-connecting roads will be taken up by the KSUDP. The following are the roads that would be benefited from the scheme:

Karshaka Road (first 150 metres from South Road overbridge), Palarivattom-Vyttila road, Chittoor road, road between MG road and Chittoor road from Padma junction, road between MG road and Chittoor road from Ground Junction, road between MG road and Chittoor road from KSRTC junction, road between MG road and Chittoor road from Jose junction, Thoppumpady-Paravana-Fort Kochi road, Paravana-Mattanchery, TD road, Church landing road, Durbar Hall road and Mullassery canal road.

The KSUDP has also proposed six projects for improving key traffic junctions in the city. The junctions that have been identified for the project are the following: Jose junction, Maharaja College junction, Padma junction, Kacheripady junction, Park Avenue with Hospital Road Junction and Kathrikadavu junction.

The Rs. 9.78 crore surface water drainage scheme proposed for Kochi has failed to evoke much enthusiasm like the Rs. 131 crore Basic Services to the Urban Poor scheme. It is the escalating cost of building materials, it is learnt, that has been discouraging the contractors from taking up the projects.

Proposals for setting up conventional water supply scheme, seawater desalination project, a special water supply scheme for Eloor, Kalamassery and Rain Water harvesting are also in the pipeline. A major sum has been spent already by the authorities towards the setting up of the Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant.