Thiruvananthapuram: The second reach of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila highway from Prava-chambalam to Vazhimukku will be ready before next state elections.
This 5-km stretch was considered to be the most challenging milestone of the project and would cost close to Rs 115 crore.
It passes through Balaramapuram, the busiest commercial corridor on the stretch. Also, a formula has been worked out to evict around 22 families residing on what is claimed as purampokku on the old highway.
“We'll provide three cents of land to the families at one of the three proposed rehabilitation sites. The project will go ahead using over 95 per cent of land ceded to the government,” an official said.
Once the KIFB starts releasing funds, the contractor will begin relocation of assets and complete the project in two years time.
The contractor, a renowned developer in the city, was initially the only bidder. The project went for re-tendering, and they emerged as the lowest bidder.
A citizen group under the banner of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila Highway Action Council had threatened to go on strike due to delays in the project. With this, the PWD hastened the tendering process.
The traffic jams and road rages were also on the rise on the stretch. The first reach of the project between Karamana and Pravachambalam was inaugurated in 2016, and since then the project was in limbo. The second phase stretches between Vazhimukku and Kaliyikkavila on the Tamil Nadu border.
