Fund from KIIFB to be used for Sabarimala road maintenance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Instead of the usual way of starting the maintenance works of Sabarimala roads at the beginning of Sabarimala pilgrim season, the Public Works Department (PWD) is all set to launch maintenance works worth Rs 89 crore for the maintenance of roads in four districts in the state, which will be used by Ayyappa devotees to reach Sabarimala.
Interestingly, this will be the first road project to utilise fund from Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). As many as 26 roads will be maintained under the project. This will include the 17 roads suggested by the high court for maintenance. The PWD has issued order to complete tender proceedings by August 15 and works by October 15. The 25.55-km Ambalapuzha-Thiruvalla town road will be maintained by laying bituminous macadam and bituminous concrete layers.
The other roads included in the Sabarimala project are Punaloor-Thenmala-Aryankavu road, Mannarakulanji Vadasserikkara-Chalakkayam road, Plappally-Vadassserikkara road, Chengannor-Panthalam-Pathanamthitta road, Chenganoor-Aranmula-Pathanamtitta road, Panthalam-Adoor-Kaipattoor-Pathanamthitta road, Ranni-Chettonkara-Attikayam road, Ranni-Vadacherrikkara road, Ranni-Placheri-Mukkada road, Punaloor-Pathanapuram-Mylapra road, Thenmala-Kulathoopuzha road, Kottayam-Mundakayam-Erumeli road, Kumily-Vandiperiyar-Peerumedu-Mundakkayam road, Alappuzha-Changanacherry road, Kambammettu-Puliyanmala-Kumily road, Kayamkulam-Chenganoor road, Marayoor-Munnar-Kumily road, Kuttikkanam-Kattappana road, Cherukolpuzha-Ranni and Madathumuzhy road.
PWD Minister G Sudhakaran told TOI that initial estimate prepared by the department was excess. “We sent back the estimates for review. The collectors of Kollam, Pathanamtitta, Idukki, Alappuzha and Kottayam reviewed the estimate. Approval has been given for the revised estimates,” he said.
Sudhakaran said the new technologies such as use of rubber, plastic and geotextiles will be implemented in small stretches in these roads. “The modern technologies discussed in a recent workshop for PWD engineers will be done on experimental basis at Sabarimala roads,” he said.
In 2013, the high court had ordered that PWD must complete maintenance of Sabarimala roads before October end. Though Madalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season starts by mid-November, maintenance works usually never end before that.