Refurbished road to reopen by Aug

T'puram: Refurbishment of the Muttathara–Beemapally–Valiyathura road is nearing completion, with officials confirming the revamped stretch will reopen in Aug. This key corridor, heavily used by passengers from Tamil Nadu travelling to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, remained battered for several months, causing safety concerns.

PWD awarded the Rs 7.5 crore contract for the project to Sree Dhanya Constructions after state govt approval of the tender in Dec 2024. While budgetary constraints and higher-than-estimated bids delayed final approvals, the urgency of repairing this vital route led to expedited acceptance of the contractor's proposal, despite being 17% over the initial estimate.

The construction of the road began in April this year. Though the onset of the monsoon temporarily halted progress, work resumed, with road levelling and resurfacing swiftly advancing.

According to PWD chief engineer (roads) Ajith Ramachandran, "Levelling work is underway and the entire refurbishment will be completed in Aug." He assured that all structural and surface improvements would be finalized on schedule.

Starting from Kallumoodu near Muttathara, the project involves resurfacing the entire stretch that links to Beemapally and extends to Valiyathura.

Funded by Nabard, the initiative targets improved riding quality, safer travel and better connectivity.