Road works inaugurated

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: PWD Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju on Wednesday inaugurated the works of renovation of roads under the City Corporation. PWD is taking up the maintenance of 204.35 km of roads in the 100 wards.This is for the first time that the PWD is renovating Corporation roads using Department funds. March is the deadline fixed for the completion of works.The State Government has allotted ` 157.96 crore to the PWD for the renovation of city roads. Of this, ` 42.48 crore has been earmarked for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. The works aim at giving a facelift to roads within Corporation limits. According to PWD Executive Engineer T K Jayakumar, the Department is taking up the renovation works of as many as 242 roads. “Roads 3.75 m wide are considered for renovation. Corporation roads having links to major roads too will be repaired. Apart from tarring, the PWD will construct drains on some roads,” he said.“Road works at various places will proceed simultaneously. Works are expected to be completed by March,” he added.PWD had held meetings with MLAs and councillors and roads were selected considering the list submitted by them. Transport Minister V S Sivakumar presided over the inaugural function. Shashi Tharoor MP, MLAs K Muraleedharan, V Sivankutty and Jameela Prakasam and Mayor K Chandrika, among others, attended.