"Thiruvananthapuram Smart Road Project Unlikely to Meet Revised Deadline"

Efforts to develop smart roads in the state capital as part of the Smart City project have hit a snag as crucial road construction may not meet the revised deadline of June 15. The delay is primarily attributed to recurring sewerage line bursts during the excavation process for laying underground utilities.

A significant sewerage line burst occurred in the Vazhuthacaud area on Friday night, bringing construction work to a halt and exacerbating challenges faced by contractors. This incident is just one of many disruptions that have hindered progress, making it increasingly unlikely to meet completion targets. Earlier, continuous rainfall had interrupted work, leading authorities to extend the deadline to June 15.

Despite setbacks, Smart City officials are committed to ensuring that roads are at least navigable by the deadline. "We are working around the clock to ensure that the roads are at least navigable by June 15," stated a project spokesperson. "However, other associated works will need to continue beyond this date," the spokesperson added. Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) and Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) are collaborating with Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to repair and replace damaged sewerage pipelines promptly.

"While there was some initial delay in replacing the damaged lines by KWA, the work has gained momentum now after the rains kept it away for three days," noted a KRFB official.

Nevertheless, the prolonged delay in completion has irked residents and local business owners, who endure extended disruptions due to ongoing construction. "Every time there is a delay, it impacts our lives and our businesses," remarked Jayakumar K, a shop owner in Vazhuthacaud. "We were hoping that the Smart City project would bring improvements, but right now, it is causing more problems," he added.

The Smart City project aims to modernize Thiruvananthapuram's infrastructure, including the development of smart roads equipped with advanced utilities and services. However, frequent sewerage line bursts have underscored the challenges of integrating new systems with existing infrastructure. Each burst necessitates immediate attention, repair, and sometimes complete overhauls, leading to significant delays in project completion.

ET