Trivandrum transport infrastructure developments: Roads & Grade Seperators

[ajithv]

Ride to Ponmudi Hill Station, Trivandrum

[srammachoo]

Mannanthala - Peroorkkada Stretch of the new NEYYAR DAM - AKKULAM ROAD

[apologize for the poor quality coz its shot using mobile camera]


Mannanthala Junction


Mannathala


Mukkola


Erappukuzhi



Kudappanakkunnu (Civil Station)


Poomalliyoorkonam


Peroorkada to Marappalam

Toll Jn


Ambalamukku


Kuravankonam


Marappalam

[s_bose]

Poor quality pictures as you say, but the quality of roads still shine through.

[ajithv]

Karamana-Kaliyikkavila road widening on track: Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Enough funds have been set aside for acquiring land to facilitate the development of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila road. The acquisition would be completed soon, said PWD minister V K Ibrahim Kunju here on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, he said the land acquisition was progressing fast and the Rs 300-crore fund set aside for the acquisition process could be used for settling the land acquisition claims.

On complaints regarding the alignment of the proposed road, he said it was finalized after discussions with all stake-holders. He added that the possibility of any change in the approved alignment was remote.

The minister said people who lost their land to the road development can claim compensation once the government issues the 4(1) notification. He added that action would be taken against those who use the service roads for unauthorized parking of vehicles.

[ajithv]

Needed: Manual Support

It is a first-of-its kind in the country. But, the first vehicle-actuated Wireless Traffic Control (Wi-TraC) system functioning in Vellayambalam Junction needs some kind of manual support for a foolproof performance.

Currently, a traffic policeman and a home guard are deployed to control the traffic at the busy junction. Wi-TraC is a government-supported research project of C-DAC. The project has the backing of Keltron. Wi-TraC is said to have advantages over conventional traffic controllers in terms of functional features, energy efficiency and size.

When asked about the need for the deployment of Traffic Police, Traffic Assistant Commissioner Rajmohan said that it was not the inefficiency of the Wi-TraC system, but the non-cooperation of motorists to follow instructions that was the problem at the junction.

“From our experience, introduction of Wi-TraC system has brought about lot of change to the traffic congestion at the junction. The volume of traffic at the junction has exceeded the limit. Policemen are deployed so that the motorists would follow the traffic instructions,” he said. Rajmohan added that more such signals are needed along the many stretches in the city. He expressed the hope that the policemen could be withdrawn from the junction once everything was on track.

Project engineer of Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) K Madhavan Pillai said that the junction was in need of a flyover considering the volume of traffic. “But, the Government could not afford a flyover owing to financial crunch. During rush hour, when schools open and close, or a VIP visit or a procession, intervention of Traffic Police is needed to control the system,” he said.

Pillai added that the Wi-TraC was an experimental research project.

As per the original plan of City Roads Improvement Project (CRIP), a signal junction without the roundabout was envisaged at the Vellayambalam Junction. However, it faced a roadblock when a group protested against the removal of the statue of Ayyankali at the island.

[Ajaypp]

Originally Posted by ajithv

Project engineer of Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) K Madhavan Pillai said that the junction was in need of a flyover considering the volume of traffic. “But, the Government could not afford a flyover owing to financial crunch.

Lol, given the magnificent announcements that this Government is making everyday, "financial crunch" wouldn't come to mind easily.

[Damukannappan]

[Damukannappan]

[ajithv]

CRIP may include roads in newly-annexed areas

There is a chance that the badly rutted roads in the outlying panchayats that were annexed to the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in recent years find redemption in the Thiruvananthapuram City Road Improvement Project (T-CRIP).

After the matter was raised in the Assembly on Monday, Works Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju said that the roads can be included and renovated in the subsequent phases of CRIP if required.

Earlier, Vattiyoorkavu MLA K Muraleedharan had pointed out that the roads in the annexed panchayats were in an extremely poor condition, and the Government should explore the possibility of including them in the CRIP project.

The State Government has given shape to a City Road Development Project (CRDP) committee to oversee CRIP. The Chief Secretary-led CRDP has now conducted two rounds of talks, Ebrahim Kunju said. CRIP envisages the development of 42.06 kilometres of city roads, and the project is in phase III at present.

Karamana-Kalayikkavila

The land acquisition for the development of the Karamana-Kalayikkavila National Highway stretch has not been halted, the PWD Minister said. The high-level committee overseeing the acquisition is in the process of including certain survey numbers that had been left out before.

A new government order will be issued by including them, the Minister said in reply to a question by MLAs Koliyakkode Krishnan Nair, Elamaram Kareem, V Sivankutty and B Sathyan. In February this year, the Government had issued a fresh order after complaints were raised with regards to the existing alignment for acquisition.

[ajithv]

Kovalam junction to wear a new look

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has given administrative sanction for beautifying Kovalam junction and developing GV Raja Road leading to KTDC Samudra hotel into a green avenue with roadside seating.

Habitat Technology Group founder chairman G Shankar has been entrusted with the job of turning the unassuming triangular spot in the middle of the road demarcating the way to Kovalam into an iconic welcome mat for visitors. "It is being done solely on the chief minister's request. He is said to have travelled on the road and failed to notice the entrance to Kovalam. He felt that it should stand out," said a tourism department official.

Shankar, who took time off from the drawing board to speak to TOI, said he was going to incorporate a sculpture that embodies the spirit of Kovalam, which would also act as a welcome signage for visitors.

"The sculpture will be made of stone, concrete and water to withstand the salinity in the air and the elements that it will be exposed to. I am thinking of a mermaid," he said.

The small area beside the auto stand near Kovalam junction will also be landscaped. But the most impressive decision is to develop a 1 km stretch of GV Raja Road as a model road, with seating on either sides.

"The park next to Samudra Beach is in disarray. Some work was done to create a public space but there is no access to the park, defined pathways or adequate lighting. Vandalism is a big issue with projects like this. We have to work with heavy materials like granite benches, which cannot be dislodged. More trees will be planted to enhance the greenery of the area. This development will also benefit small traders in the area ," said Shankar.

[Ziyan]

Originally Posted by ajithv

Kovalam junction to wear a new look

Habitat Technology Group founder chairman G Shankar has been entrusted with the job of turning the unassuming triangular spot in the middle of the road demarcating the way to Kovalam into an iconic welcome mat for visitors.

Won't this affect the 4 laning of the by-pass which will start soon??

[Ajaypp]

Originally Posted by Ziyan

Won't this affect the 4 laning of the by-pass which will start soon??

The bulldozers should get there just after Shankar's done. Lol!

[ajithv]

Works on Kundamonkadavu Bridge to Begin on Monday

If everything goes well, the oldest bridge in the city can enter ‘retirement life’ in two years’ time. PWD will begin work on a new bridge parallel to the old Kundamonkadavu bridge across the Karamana river on coming Monday.

Two years ago, the PWD had carried out maintenance work on the 114-year-old steel suspension bridge. After the new bridge is in place, the old bridge will be maintained as a historical monument.

PWD Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju will inaugurate the work on the new bridge on Monday. The new bridge will have a width of 9 metres. The total cost of construction is ` 10.88 crore, including ` 1.10 crore for land acquisition.

According to PWD executive engineer Jayakumar, the work will be completed in two years. “Land acquisition for the bridge and approach roads has been completed. The bridge will have 3 spans, 7.5-metre carriageway and a 1.5-metre footpath,” he said.

A new bridge connecting Kattakkada and Vattiyoorkavu constituencies was a long-standing demand of the local people. The people have also been demanding the preservation of the old bridge, which is threatened by wear and tear, illegal sand mining in the Karamana river etc. The old bridge was constructed in 1898. The bridge connecting the city and suburbs frequently witnesses traffic congestion.

[rakeshc]

Won't this affect the 4 laning of the by-pass which will start soon??

When it is going to start ? Staring from Kazhakuttom or from Kovalam ?

[sajith]

Trivandrum: The road improvement work on the Panavila –Ponnara Park remains incomplete for one reason or the other. And when one reason gets solved another springs up. At present, the stretch up to Model School Jn. has been widened and surfaced.


The work on the half a kilometre from Model School Jn. to Punnara Park got delayed mainly because of the Water Authority's work on the drain system and the levelling out of a few spots that were jutting out from the road surface.

As of now KWA has finished with their work and nothing stands in the way of the completion of the work till Aristo Junction.

“The Water Authority had informed us to go ahead with our work about a week back. Now our work can be carried out and can be completed till Aristo Jn. in less than a week,” says Anil Kumar Pandala, Director, TRDCL.

However, obstacles never accept defeat so easily in God’s own country; the final 100 odd metres from Aristo Jn. to Punnara Park is fated to remain incomplete for a while.


“For widening the remaining stretch we need to have the KSRTC bus shelters to be shifted from the present spot. And we also need to take up a portion of the land from the Thampanoor police station limits, that's currently being used to keep the detained vehicles,” Pandala explained.

[Cosmicbliss]

Seeing these pictures as well as others in other Kerala forums of roads in Kerala really surprises me. My Keralite friends keep moaning about how bad roads in Kerala, how poor the quality of construction is and how much better roads in neighbouring States are. Seeing so many pics, both in this and other forums makes me wonder what they were talking about. Roads seem narrow but in pretty good condition.

[Gopal.K.Kumar]

Originally Posted by Cosmicbliss

Seeing these pictures as well as others in other Kerala forums of roads in Kerala really surprises me. My Keralite friends keep moaning about how bad roads in Kerala, how poor the quality of construction is and how much better roads in neighbouring States are. Seeing so many pics, both in this and other forums makes me wonder what they were talking about. Roads seem narrow but in pretty good condition.

Yes, you have a point. If you compare with the condition of roads across the country (exclude those like Yeshwantarao Chavan Expressway or the recent developments like G.Q or connectors ) the road surfaces are superior.

The real issue with roads in the state is their width, especially highways.

[krp]

+1.
The unnecessary debate on whether 30m or 45m for highway width in recent past has cost us dear on highway widening..

[krp]

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tpuram-pw...01-62-133.html
PWD preparing policy on better roads| Jul 16, 2012
In order to bring out better quality roads, the Public Works Department is busy preparing a road policy. The approach paper of the draft road policy was recently presented before the MLAs. The road policy will have a decade action plan for the roads maintained by PWD. One of the key objectives of the road policy is to develop a Core Road Network, which could meet the connectivity and traffic requirements of the future.
The entire project is estimated to cost Rs 35,500 crore. PWD plans PPP model for raising Rs 15,000 crore and public investment for the rest Rs 20,500 crore.
================================================

[sudheeshnairs]

Originally Posted by Cosmicbliss

Seeing these pictures as well as others in other Kerala forums of roads in Kerala really surprises me. My Keralite friends keep moaning about how bad roads in Kerala, how poor the quality of construction is and how much better roads in neighbouring States are. Seeing so many pics, both in this and other forums makes me wonder what they were talking about. Roads seem narrow but in pretty good condition.

Yes, that is the fact.

People have the tendency to whine always, they don’t look at the good things.

I find TVM roads always better than those in Bangalore. Bangalore has good amount of wide multi lane roads, elevated highways, but in totality it will not match the ‘per capita’ infrastructure of TVM. And Karnataka/Bangalore is one place where you find speak breakers in six lane roads. Unless you are a regular, you are done for when you drive. Also the sudden surprises which the roads give every day.

Regarding the width also, I think nothing is there to grieve about, it’s all based on the terrain/topography etc. Kerala is totally different from all other major states. You can make wide straight highways in a sparsely populated, plains/plateau with little disruption of ecology; not with Kerala where the terrain is rolling, ups and downs, curves, hilly, lots of rivers/streams, rainfall etc.