"Work on the Vazhayila–Nedumangad expansion has been stalled as authorities scrap the Phase II contract, citing fresh project delays."

The plan to upgrade the Vazhayila–Nedumangad Road in Thiruvananthapuram into a four-lane corridor is set to face further delays after the Kerala government terminated the contract for the project’s second phase. The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) scrapped the agreement with Coimbatore-based KCP Infra Ltd after the firm failed to submit the mandatory bank guarantee within the stipulated timeframe.

The decision is expected to slow progress on the project, which has faced multiple challenges over the years, including land acquisition hurdles and funding issues. The three-phase road-widening project, backed by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) and implemented by KRFB, aims to replace the existing narrow and accident-prone stretch with a 21-metre-wide, four-lane road to improve connectivity and reduce travel time between Vazhayila and Nedumangad.

The second phase of the project, covering the Karakulam–Valicode stretch, had been awarded to KCP Infra after it emerged as the lowest bidder. The contractor was initially given 30 days to furnish the bank guarantee, followed by a 15-day extension. However, the failure to comply even after the extended deadline led KRFB to terminate the contract for non-compliance with financial bid conditions.

A KRFB official said a fresh e-tender has been floated, with bids scheduled to be opened on January 14. The official added that around 95 per cent of land acquisition for the second phase has already been completed and compensation has largely been disbursed, clearing a major prerequisite for the start of civil works.

Meanwhile, work on the first phase of the project, from Vazhayila to Karakulam, is progressing. The contract for this stretch, which includes the construction of the Karakulam flyover, has been awarded to Cherian Varkey Constructions Ltd. The first layer of tarring on the 1.5-km stretch is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. Officials said the Karakulam flyover is expected to be completed by March, which is likely to ease traffic congestion from the city’s eastern suburbs.

The third phase of the project, extending from Valicode to Pazhakutti in Nedumangad, remains in the preparatory stage, with compensation payments having begun recently. Once all three phases are completed, the upgraded corridor is expected to significantly reduce congestion on one of the region’s busiest suburban routes and improve connectivity to interior areas.

The Vazhayila–Nedumangad road widening is part of KRFB’s broader programme to upgrade key urban traffic corridors in the capital region. The 12-km road will feature a four-lane, 21-metre-wide cross-section, including a 15-metre carriageway, a two-metre median and two-metre utility paths on either side, and is expected to serve as an important feeder route to destinations such as Tenkasi, Aryanad, Vithura and the tourist hub of Ponmudi.