Thiruvananthapuram: The Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to disassociate all ties with Trivandrum Development Authority (Trida), the nodal agency appointed by the Local Self Government Department (LSGD) – from the much-awaited Vattiyoorkavu development project, which is part of phase II of the Capital Region Development Programme (CRDP).
PWD has roped in Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for funding the long-pending development project of Vattiyoorkavu a prominent residential suburb of the state capital which connects many outer areas.
As part of the project, 46 km road will be developed into a 20-meter wide road. Vattiyoorkavu junction is the key intersection of Maruthamkuzhi – Kachani Road, Vattiy-oorkavu – Arapura Road and Peroorkada- Vattiyoorkavu Road.
A top official of the PWD said that the department will submit the detailed project report of the three roads in February. “We will submit the DPR next month to KIIFB,” said the official.
Trida Chairman Jayan Babu told DC that a meeting chaired by additional chief secretary was held recently. “We have received the minutes of the meeting that our services are no longer required for the implementation of the project. PWD will be directly implementing the project with the funding from KIIFB,” said Mr Jayan Babu.
An official said that in the initial meeting called by KIIFB, there was no confusion in the Trida’s involvement in the project. “Another meeting was held where we were told that PWD doesn’t want us to be associated with the project,” said the official. Trida has written to Local Self Govern-ment Department (LSGD) to clarify on the issue.
Vattiyoorkavu MLA K Muraleedharan said that he was not invited for the second meeting. “I took part in the meeting chaired by KIIFB chairman K.M. Abra-ham. They didn’t invite me for the next meeting in which they took the decision to oust Trida from the project,” said Mr Muraleedharan.
In 2015, the project was given administrative sanction by the government. A whopping Rs 300 crores was announced for the project, but no fund was released after that for the project.
