THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The PWD’s much-hyped Rs 10, 000-crore Sustainable and Planned Effort to Ensure Infrastructure Development of Kerala (SPEEID) is fizzling out with the finance department holding back permission for it. Only three projects out of 23 announced under SPEEID—the Edapally flyover (Rs 108 crore), Palarivattom flyover (Rs 80 crore) and Kozhikode bypass (Rs 153 crore)-- have already started.
SPEEID is a joint venture of Kerala State Construction Corporation, Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala Ltd and PWD with funding from Kerala Road Fund Board. According to top PWD officials, the work on Alappuzha and Kollam bypasses too has started in which the state and central governments will have equal partnership. But recently the first tender application was rejected by the centre citing exorbitant rates. PWD officials are hoping to complete the bypasses within two years.
“Though the first tender was not recognised, the second tender is yet to be opened. The centre will sanction Rs 270 crore towards the Alappuzha and Kollam bypasses. The state has to find an equal amount to complete these two bypasses. We are hoping to overcome the grim financial situation and would go ahead with the projects,” said PWD Minister V. K. Ebrahimkunju
The recent cabinet meeting did not discuss paying the pending Rs 1,800 crore to the contractors association, which has slowed down the maintenance works across the state. Meanwhile, out of 793 km road to be developed on NH 17 and NH 47, only 8.89 hectares has been acquired out of 1,329.15 hectares leaving the development in doldrums. With the union surface transport ministry maintaining that NH stretches needed a width of 45 metres and the local sentiments insisting on 30 metres, the stalemate has been continuing.
