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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Relief ahead for Thiruvananthapuram's eastern suburbs as road upgrade gains pace
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) has granted technical sanction for the second phase of the Vazhayila–Nedumangad road development project, covering the Karakulam to Valicode stretch. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This section is now cleared for tendering, and the long-awaited upgrade is one step closer to easing travel for residents of Thiruvananthapuram's eastern suburbs. KRFB is expected to float the tender within two weeks, pending approval from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), which is likely within the next week. Once approved, tendering and construction are expected to begin without delay. Minister for food and civil supplies and local MLA, G R Anil, confirmed the development. "The tender for the second reach is moving ahead at a fast pace. Once KIIFB gives cost concurrence, the tender will be floated by the end of this month," he told TOI. He said the first phase of the project, stretching from Vazhayila to Karakulam is nearing completion and is expected to be opened to the public by Dec 2025. The second reach from Karakulam to Valicode is targeted for completion and opening by March 2026, while the third and final stretch, from Valicode to Nedumangad town, is slated for tendering in Sept and is expected to become operational by May 2026. Under the current regulations, at least 80% of land acquisition payout must be completed before a tender can be floated. For the second phase, around 90% of compensation has already been disbursed to affected landowners, effectively clearing a key procedural hurdle. The entire Vazhayila–Nedumangad corridor upgrade, spanning approximately 12km, is one of the most ambitious road development efforts currently underway in the district. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Once completed, it is expected to significantly decongest traffic on the existing narrow stretch, improve commute times and boost economic activity in the suburban regions of the capital. This is also part of the Thiruvananthapuram-Tenkasi interstate highway. The project faced several delays over the years due to challenges in land acquisition, fund approvals and alignment changes. However, with the KIIFB-backed funding mechanism now in place and compensation procedures nearly complete, the project is finally moving forward at an accelerated pace. Locals have welcomed the developments, expressing hope that the road, once widened and modernised, would not only ease daily travel but also reduce accident rates, which have been a persistent concern along the current alignment. The upgraded road will also support improved public transport connectivity and is expected to serve as a crucial feeder corridor for traffic heading toward Nedumangad, Aryanad, Vithura and Ponmudi, a key tourist destination in the region. KIIFB is funding the project and the KRFB is the implementing agency. The govt previously sanctioned Rs 338.53 crore for the project, with Rs 279.31 crore allocated for road work and Rs 59.22 crore for land acquisition.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Minister hands over compensation for Phase II of Pazhakutty–Mangalapuram Road project
Thiruvananthapuram : Food and civil supplies minister GR Anil on Saturday handed over the compensation for Phase II of the Pazhakutty–Mangalapuram Road project to district collector Anu Kumari. At a formal event held in collectorate conference hall, the minister handed over a cheque of Rs 44.64 crore. The 20km-long and 13m-wide Pazhakutty–Mangalapuram Road is being developed with a total investment of Rs 170 crore from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The compensation covers land acquired for the second reach of the project, stretching from Mukkam Palamoodu to Pothencode. This phase involves the acquisition of 1 acre and 70 cents from 400 families. Additionally, eight individuals eligible under the resettlement package will receive Rs 9.5 lakh each. The minister directed officials to expedite proceedings and complete compensation disbursement by Sept so that the tendering process can be initiated without delay. In the first reach of the project, 73.4 cent was acquired from 203 families, for which Rs 5.61 crore was disbursed as compensation. The 7km road section from Pazhakutty to Mukkam Palamoodu incurred an expenditure of Rs 35.52 crore, with Rs 12.93 crore allocated for its completion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The construction on this stretch is scheduled to begin on July 1. The third reach, from Pothencode to Mangalapuram, involved acquiring 66 cent from 247 families, with Rs 9.46 crore already distributed as compensation. An amount of Rs 47.83 crore has been sanctioned for the construction work, which is currently nearing completion and is expected to be finalised by the end of July. The minister also instructed officials to take necessary steps to ease travel difficulties faced by the public during the construction phase. The review meeting was attended by deputy collector Muhammad Safeer and representatives from various departments.
New Indian Express
03-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Praveshanotsavam marks a new era in education sector: Minister G R Anil
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has marched ahead of other states in the education sector and the 'Praveshanotsavam' programme to welcome newcomers to schools marks a new era, Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil has said. The minister was inaugurating the district-level 'Praveshanotsavam' programme at Kavalayoor Government Higher Secondary School near here on Monday. The Minister said the Praveshanotsavam is being conducted in a grand manner these days and the newcomers enjoy every moment of the event. The government has made huge progress in terms of providing breakfast and noon meals to children, revised textbooks and improving the infrastructure facilities in schools. 'The improvement in school infrastructure is huge. Besides, the first two weeks after school reopening is set apart to familiarise children with various socially relevant topics. The state is poised to eradicate acute poverty which would herald a transformation in its social sphere,' Anil said. The minister also inaugurated the renovated building at the school which was constructed at a cost of Rs 1.48 crore of which Rs 1.3 crore was from KIIFB fund and Rs 18 lakh from the MLA's local development fund. District Panchayat president D Suresh Kumar, District Panchayat vice-president Shailaja Beegum, Manamboor grama panchayat president S Nahas, district panchayat health and education standing committee chairperson V R Salooja, cine artist Akhil Kavalayoor and school authorities were present. Attingal MLA O S Ambika who presided over the programme said schools in the state have been raised to international standards through the General Education Rejuvenation Mission. The changes the government brought in the school education sector have been timely, she pointed out.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Horticorp committed to procure all vegetables produced by farmers: Minister G R Anil
Thiruvananthapuram: Food and civil supplies minister G R Anil on Thursday said the govt agencies would procure all vegetables that farmers bring to the Nedumangad wholesale agri market for sale. He gave this assurance to the farmers during a visit there. The minister also said that necessary steps would be taken to make the procurement time-bound and hassle-free by making necessary changes in the online portals of the agriculture department and Horticorp. He said Horticorp would immediately release the vegetable price arrears pending for the past five months. Farmers are to get over Rs 48 lakh, pending from Jan to May. Anil, who also interacted with the farmers at a meeting convened by agriculture minister P Prasad, said Horticorp would ensure the procurement of all vegetables if the farmers could inform the authorities in advance about the details of their produce and the quantity and date on which the farmers would bring it to the wholesale market for procurement. The inconsistency in the procurement and the delay in the disbursal of payment were causing serious trouble to farmers in the Nedumangad region. The food and civil supplies minister said he was aware of the difficulties caused to farmers by certain officials of Horticorp at the wholesale market. He said the department would address such unfortunate incidents. Minister Prasad said the damaged freezer unit and toilet in the market would be repaired in a month. He said a single point contact number would be made available to farmers for interacting with the department. Prasad said farming could be attractive only when farmers sell value-added products using their produce. He said the govt was committed to helping farmers move in that direction and promised to address all practical issues raised by farmers at the meeting.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala sanctions Rs 100 crore more for paddy procurement
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The distribution of procurement price for paddy collected from farmers during the current season will resume shortly, Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil said on Wednesday. To facilitate this, the state government has sanctioned an additional Rs 100 crore. The minister said that the full procurement payment for 1, 45,619.915 metric tonnes of paddy collected during the first crop of the 2024-25 season has already been credited to the farmers' accounts. In the second crop season, 366,610.498 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from 142,217 farmers so far. A total of Rs 212.86 crore has been disbursed to the farmers as procurement price till date. With the distribution of the newly sanctioned Rs 100 crore, an additional Rs 152 crore is expected to be released. The minister said that this would enable the government to fully settle the payments for the paddy procured from farmers. As part of expediting the procurement process, more officers have been deployed in major areas. The state also expects to receive Rs 1,108 crore from the Central government in connection with the paddy procurement.
