Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

City transport development plan approved

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation Council on Tuesday approved the blueprint of a Comprehensive Mobility Plan for the capital covering the development of roads, promotion of mass transport, improvement of junctions and construction of bridges, under-passages, pedestrian subways and parking facilities.

The project is to be implemented with assistance from the Central government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). In the first phase, 180 kms. of roads will be taken up for development, along with construction of nine new bridges. Three pedestrian subways will be constructed in Ulloor, Sreekaryam and Pattom, and four old bridges in the city will be reconstructed.

The new bridges are slated to come up on the Mudavanmugal-Vettikuzhy, Parayilkadavu-Thrivikramangalam- Pappanamcode, Vellayani-Kudathravilakam-Nemom, Bund Road-Soman Nagar, Kalady-Kalladimukham, Edavankode-Kannamoola-Ulloor thodu, Kulasekharam, and Malamugal-Cheriyakonni stretches and at Myladikadavu. The blueprint proposes a railway bridge near Karamana and a footbridge on the Ukkachavila slum- Kanettumukku route.

The Mulavana metal bridge, Vallakadavu bridge, Ponnara bridge and Kundamankadavu bridge are to be widened and reconstructed.

The project envisages the development of the city road network in a ring and radial pattern for smooth flow of traffic.

The improved connectivity is also expected to assist the horizontal growth of the city towards the north, east and west.

One of the major proposals is the construction of a major truck terminal in Eenchakkal with satellite terminals in Vallakadavu and Chalai-bypass, to streamline the operation of goods vehicles and address the demand for parking for lorries, servicing, and warehousing activities.

The terminals are to be equipped with vehicle servicing facilities, booking offices, rest and changing rooms for crew, toilets, eateries, fuel outlets and storage facilities.

Improvement of public transport constitutes a thrust area of the project. The blueprint recommends the introduction of an integrated mass transport system with high-capacity buses operating on dedicated motorways. It also proposes upgrading of KSRTC buses and construction of a new bus terminal.

An intelligent transport management system comprising a network of signals installed at various intersections has been mooted.

The project moots the construction of off-street parking lots at critical locations such as Palayam, the Statue-Secretariat area, Vazhuthacaud, near museum and zoo, the Ulloor-medical college hospital area, Peroorkada, the East Fort-Chalai area, Thampanoor and the Vellayambalam-Sasthamangalam road.

The blueprint was adopted unanimously by the council.

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