Slow lane: Pettah–Anayara Road widening faces new delay

Thiruvananthapuram: Having missed the govt's Dec 2025 deadline, the revamp and widening of the Pettah–Anayara Road is now likely to be completed only by May 2026.The infrastructure project, aimed at easing chronic congestion and improving connectivity in the capital, is being funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) and executed by the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) at an estimated cost of Rs 143.6 crore. Of this, nearly Rs 98 crore was spent on acquiring land from 614 property owners along the stretch, a process that significantly delayed the start of physical work.Awarded in May 2024 to the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), the project carries an 18-month timeline. The scope includes widening a 2.4km stretch between Pettah and Venpalavattom (Stretch 1), a 1.2km segment (stretch 2) and constructing a new 170metre link road. Despite favourable weather conditions this season, progress has been slower than anticipated. Officials attribute the delay largely to sewerage and drainage work being carried out alongside the road widening. Variations in the width and height of underground drains required corrective adjustments during construction, slowing progress on the main carriageway. A senior KRFB official acknowledged the delays but said the most technically challenging components are nearing completion. "The sewer and utility shifting works took longer than expected. These needed to be done meticulously to ensure long-term durability. The groundwork is almost finished and we now expect the main carriageway to be ready by March," he said. However, sources familiar with the project estimate that full completion, including final surfacing and ancillary works such as footpaths and bus shelters—will likely extend into May 2026. Local residents, who have endured nearly two years of recurring disruptions, say the prolonged construction has affected daily life. In recent weeks, sections of the road were partially closed and drinking water supply was cut for days due to the shifting of KWA pipelines linked to the project, leaving hundreds without piped water and forcing many to depend on private supplies. Kadakampally Surendran, the local MLA, said the govt remained committed to delivering a high-quality road. "The work is progressing rapidly now, and we expect it to be finished by March. Our immediate target is to complete the first layer of tarring by March 10," he said. Once completed, the upgraded corridor is expected to ease traffic bottlenecks from Pettah through Anayara to Venpalavattom, improving access to national highway corridors and strengthening urban mobility in the growing capital city.