Contractor row ends, road project gets a fresh lifeline

Thiruvananthapuram: After months of uncertainty, the stalled second phase of the Vazhayila–Nedumangad road project—covering the stretch from Keltron Junction to Valicode—is finally set to move forward. The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) is scheduled to sign an agreement with new contractor on Thursday.The project, part of the four-laning of the Vazhayila–Nedumangad corridor, had hit a major roadblock after the contract awarded to a Coimbatore-based firm was terminated. The firm failed to submit key documents, including a mandatory bank guarantee, within the stipulated timeframe. After KRFB scrapped the agreement and re-tendered the work, the original contractor challenged the decision in court—but its plea was rejected, clearing the way for fresh contractual arrangements.Despite the agreement signing, construction is unlikely to begin immediately. A significant number of labourers assigned to the project are currently in in West Bengal and Assam for the elections and are expected to return only next week. The approaching monsoon season is also likely to slow initial progress.Funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) and executed by KRFB, the project is one of the most significant infrastructure initiatives in Thiruvananthapuram's eastern suburbs. The 12km stretch is being upgraded into a 21metre-wide four-lane corridor with a median and pedestrian facilities, aimed at easing congestion and improving road safety.While nearly 95% of land acquisition for the second phase is complete, delays in contractor selection have held back physical work on the ground. Phase I of the project, from Vazhayila to Karakulam, is nearing completion, including the long-awaited Karakulam flyover. Once fully developed, the corridor is expected to cut travel time and improve connectivity to Nedumangad, Palode and Ponmudi, while also facilitating smoother movement towards Tamil Nadu.