KOLLAM: The construction works of the much awaited Kollam bypass will be completed by end of August, according to the union ministry of road transport and highways. The 13 km-road, being built at a cost of Rs 352 crore connecting Kavanadu and Mevaram on national highway 66 will help commuters bypass traffic snarls in Kollam. "The work was tendered in February 2015 and was expected to complete within November 2017 with a project cost of Rs. 277.24 crore. However, the contract has to be extended till August 2018 owing to scarcity of construction materials including metal chips. The estimated cost has also been increased to Rs 352 crore," said N.K. Premachandran, MP.
At present, a total of 85 per cent works have been completed, the ministry has said in a communication, according to him. The construction of three bridges having a total length of 1541.62 meters as part of the bypass project has been completed. The widening of the road in the first phase is complete for a stretch of 4.58 kilometers and the construction works of remaining 6.88 kilometers is in the final stage.
In the second stage of the project, road from Kavanadu to Kallumthazham spanning 8.30 kilometers has been newly built while the existing 4.58 kilometers of road from Mevaram to Kallumth azham was widened. The road has been constructed in modern macadam technique in which soil is strengthened at the bottom, a layer of soil with granular subgrading is laid. The maintenance of the road for four years from the completion of works will be undertaken by the contractor.
