Ring roads in Thiruvananthpuram capital region

Government of Kerala has identified the need for the development of Thiruvananthapuram Capital region to serve the needs of the capital and to be a symbol of the development of Kerala. The cabinet subcommittee on capital region development has approved a proposal to develop nine important road corridors, three link roads to the National Highway bypass, two flyovers and one underpass as part of the capital region development scheme. The scheme covering 42 km of roads envisages the development 65 junctions and 94 busbays.

The road corridors selected are:

1. Students centre – LMS -Vellayambalam – Kaudiar, and Vellayambalam – Sasthamangalam - 3.751 km
2. LMS - Attakulangara - 3.37 km
3. Museum – Bakery Jn. - Thampanoor – Overbridge including Flyover and Underpass- 3.905 km
4 Asan Square – Pettah - Airport - 9.503 km
5a. Pattoor – Vanchiyoor - Uppilammoodu –Thakaramparambu - Power House Road - Choorakattupalayam
5b. Nalumukku - Uppilammoodu - Kaithamukku - Thakaramparambu. Total for 5 a&b - 4.485 km
6. Vanross - Oottukuzhy - Secretariat - 1.42 km
7. Pattom – Marappalam - Kaudiar - 2.30 km
8. Pattom –Medical College – Ulloor - Kochulloor - 3.20 km
9. Kowdiar – Peroorkada - Vazhayila - 3.473 km

The bye pass links are:

1. Attakulangara – Sreevaraham - NH Byepass (Enchakkal) - 1.47 km
2. Thakaramparambu – Enchakkal- NH Bypass (Arat Road) - 1.43 km
3. Murinjapalam- Poonthi Road - NH Bypass - 3.76 km

Components of the project are:

• Widening and strengthening of 42 Kms. of roads
• Geometric improvement
• Improvement of 63 junctions
• Flyovers at Bakery junction and Melepazhavangadi and Underpass at Palayam junction
• 2 metre footpath on all the roads
• Road signs, markings and 36 solar – based satellite controlled synchronised traffic signals
• Provision of storm water drains, new streetlights and tree planting
• 94 Bus bays abutting the roadway
• Reorganisation of existing utilities (telephone, electrical lines etc)
  – No future road cutting
  

The project envisages to achieve:

• Widening and strengthening of 13 corridors- 42 Kms. and 63 major intersections
• Dispersal of traffic from city centre
• Improved links to NH bypass
• Uninterrupted movement along Ring Road and across M.G.road by providing Underpass and flyovers
• Minimum two lane standards
• Highly strengthened road surface
• 94 Bus bays – Buses stopping away from road
• 2 metres wide continuous footpath, signalised zebra crossings and other facilities
  
  The Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority (TRIDA) will acquire about 20 acres of land to develop the roads. An amount of Rs. 70 crores was sanctioned for the purpose of land acquisition through Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority. 652 buildings are to relocated.The project is proposed to be implemented in thirty months under BOT (Annuity) scheme.

A two-stage bidding process was adopted to select the Concessionaire. Three bidders were qualified during the Qualification Process.

The Consortium of Punj Lloyd – CTNL was found to be the lowest bidder. The lowest bidder was invited for negotiations on the Annuity amount quoted. Based on the negotiations, the bidder offered to reduce the Annuity amount by Rs. 1.50 million to Rs. 177.49 million.

During evaluation of the Technical Proposals, the Technical Proposal of the lowest bidder (Consortium of Punj Lloyd Ltd. and CTNL) was found to be superior when compared to the same of the other bidders.

Salient Features of the Concession Agreement

• The Concession Period for the Project would be 17 years 6 months, which would include Implementation Period of 30 months and Operations Period of 15 years.
• The Concessionaire would be compensated for the capital costs and operating costs including returns thereon by way of a fixed semi-annual payment (Annuity) from the Kerala Road Fund Board during the Operations Period.
• PWD would deliver the Project site, free of all encumbrances consistent with the project delivery schedule.
• The Concessionaire would be required to achieve financial close within a period of two (2) months from signing the Concession Agreement.
• The construction would commence within a period of two (2) months from signing the Concession Agreement.
• The responsibility for design and construction of the Project facility in accordance with the Specifications and Standards prescribed would be that of the Concessionaire. Designs and drawings for the Project provided by PWD, could be adopted by the Concessionaire.
• The Concession Agreement sets out the O&M requirements and standards. Availability of the project facility in accordance with specifications and standards and operation and maintenance thereof as per the specified requirements would be the key performance criteria.

Salient features of the project are:

• 2 – lane roads - 5.773 km
• 3 – lane - 13.769 km
• 4 – lane - 17.173 km
• 6 – lane - 5.735 km
  • All roads have 2 m wide footpath. Footpaths will be paved.
  • Modern street lighting systems.
  • 12 High Mast lighting at major junctions.
  • Major junctions will have signaling.
  • Cross ducts to take care of future needs of laying fresh utility lines. No digging of roads will be permitted.
  • 1 Railway overbridge
  • 9 Bridges
  • 65 culverts
  • 2 Flyovers in its real sense – First in Kerala.
  • 1 Vehicular Underpass – first in Kerala, unique in many ways-
    • Starts at Asan Square , just after entrance to MLA Quarters.
    • 170 m gradual slope reaching a depth of 6 m at martyrs' Column.
    • 20 m of platform (over the underpass) in front of Martyrs' Column to provide seating and congregation space.
    • Raised footpath for pedestrians.
    • 55 m long “Box” under M.G.Road
    • Around 90 m of gradual slope to reach present road level at Panjapura Junction.
    • 5.5 m carriageway on either side with 30 cm safety kerb, 30 cm median – total of 12.7 m.
    • Service roads on either side:
      •  7.5 m wide + 2m footpath– from Panjapura to Palayam.
      •  5.5 m wide + 2m footpath – from Palayam to Panjapura
      •   4.0 m wide + 1.5 m footpath – from MLA Hostel flyover to Palayam
        • Signaled Junction at Palayam
        • High Mast intense lighting system.
        • Increased parking facility.

Present Stage of the Project

Letter of Acceptance was issued to the bidder on 27th January 2004.The official Inauguration of the Project was done by Hon'ble Chief Minister on 03-03-2004 in a function held at Tagore Centenary Theatre.

The agreement for the project was signed on 16th March 2004 between Kerala Road Fund Board, Executive Engineer (R&B), Thiruvananthapuram and Thiruvananthapuram Roads Development Co. Ltd, an SPV of M/s Punj Lloyd and Consolidated Toll Network Limited ( CTNL) consortium for this project.

Improvements of 27 roads of 49kms those are identified for the diversion of traffic during the implementation of this project have been completed. The work includes extensive maintenance of these roads by providing proper drains, cross drains, surfacing with BM&SDBC, shifting of abutting utility lines etc. with a total cost of 8 crores.

Dr.M.K.Muneer, Minister for works along with a team of senior officials of Government lead by Shri. Babu Jacob, Chief Secretary to Government and Shri. Joseph Mathew, Chief Engineer (R&B & IT) inspected the site for construction of the Palayam underpass and reiviewed the progress of construction activities on the 8th December 2004.

Shri.Oommen Chandy, Hon'ble Chief Minister laid foundation stone for the Palayam underpass at a function held at Palayam on 16th December 2004, presided over by Dr.M.K.Muneer, Hon'ble Minister for Works. Sri.Vakkom B Purushothaman, Hon'ble Minister for Finance laid foundation stone for the Bakery Junction Flyover and Sri. M.V.Raghavan, Hon'ble Minister for Cooperation handed over the land taken over for the projcet to Smt.Lida Jacob, Secretary PWD. Shri. B.Vijayakumar, MLA inaugurated the planting of tree saplings. Shri. K.Mohankumar MLA, Shri. M.A.Waheed MLA, Shri Beemapally Rasheed, Dr.N.S.Sreenivasan, Shri.K.Ramchand, Shri.T.A.John, Shri.Palayam Rajan offered felicitations. Shri.Babu Jacob, Chief Secretary presented the report. Shri.P.K.Venugopal, Chairman, TRIDA welcomed the gathering near Martyr's column, and Chief Engineer of PWD Shri.K.Joseph Mathew offered vote of thanks. The Minister for works announced that work of Palayam underpass will be completed within six months.

Chief Minister laying foundation stone for the Palayam underpass

Status of different components of the Project is given below.

1.Palayam Underpass

The Palayam Underpass is one of the major structures that are included in the Thiruvananthapuram City Road Improvement Project. The construction of the underpass was completed on a record time of 7 months and 15 days. The Underpass, 310 m long has a divided carriageway - 5.5 m wide - with median. It connects Asan Square (on the western side) to Panchapura (on the eastern side of MG Road). The Underpass has a vertical clearance of 5.8 m with M.G.Road. The Underpass has a roofing for a length of 75 m in MG Road portion and balance is open. Service roads are available on the western side - near the MLA Quarters and University Library and on the eastern side from Panchapura junction to Palayam The underpass was thrown open to vehicular traffic on 1st August 2005

2.Bakery Flyover and Nallah Covering:

The construction of the flyover at Bakery Junction is in progress. Work on six of the 13 piers, which will support the superstructure of the flyover, is progressing on schedule. The construction of the pier caps is likely to begin by the first week of May. Originating from Panjappura junction, the 524-metre-long flyover will provide an elevated bypass for vehicles right across RBI junction and Bakery Junction up to the Lutheran church at Panavila. It will be an extension of the underpass from Palayam to Panjappura junction. The structure will have an elevation of 5.5 m at its highest point. The carriageway will accommodate three-lane bi-directional traffic. It will have no access for pedestrians. The superstructure will be provided with crash barriers on the side to minimise the risk of accidents.

The flyover will have service roads of 5.5 m width on either side with a 2 m footpath. The open canal from Bakery Junction to Panavila has been covered with concrete slabs to accommodate the service road. The space under the bridge is to be landscaped to prevent encroachments. The construction company has drawn up a beautification scheme with lawns and flowering plants.

3. Pattoor Minor Bridge :

The Pattoor Minor Bridge construction completed.

4. Airport – Chackai Road :

From Sanghumugam to All Saints' College junction for a length of 2.20km, has been completed. Drain works from All Saints' to Chackai is in progress. Construction of Chackai Bridge is in progress. Work for the stretch from General Hospital to Asan Square has been completed.

5. LMS Jn to Kowdiar :

Vellayambalm Kaudiar reach (1.2 km) has been completed. The reach has been remodelled scientifically with strengthened roads, medians, pedestrian crossings, paved foot path, signalling and side drains, ducts for utility lines, modern street-lighting fixtures and traffic signages. The section of the road from Kaudiar Junction up to Manmohan Bungalow has six-lane width while the rest is equipped for four-lane traffic. The first satellite- supported traffic signalling unit in the city has also been installed at Kowdiar Junction. Sri.Oommen Chandy, Hon'ble Chief Minister formally declared open the renovated road on 27th February 2006 at 6.30 PM The road sub base work started in the stretch from Vellayambalam to LMS junction is in progress

6. Vanross - Oottukuzhy - Secretariat - 1.42 km Work is in progress 7. LMS - Attakulangara - 3.37 km Land acquisition is in progress and is expceted to complete by 15th March 2006. 8. Enchackal- Sreekanteshwaram: (Arat Road) - 1.47 km Completed.
	Remodelled Kaudiar junction, declared open on 27th February 2006

9. Poonthi Road - 3.76 km

The Retaining wall, Culvert and Cross-duct construction is completed in the stretch from 1+250 to 2+250 i.e. from Poonthi to Anamugham. The other works such as drain, sub grade are in progress. This portion will be completed by May 2006.

10. Amayizhanjan Canal Improvement at Pazhavangadi:

The work for flood control is under execution. The level of culvert has been raised for a length of 25m and traffic will be diverted through this. This seems to have given some relief to the flood issue at East fort. Road formation at this point is over. The traffic is expected to be diverted along this portion immediately to facilitate work on the other half of the road. All precast slabs are ready for the remaining portion.

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