Thalassery-Valavupara KSTP road upgradation work in progress

The World Bank (WB) task team that visited the Thalassery-Valavupara stretch of the ongoing WB-aided Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) to review the project has expressed satisfaction over the progress of the work.

According to KSTP officials here, the WB team expressed its satisfaction over the progress of the ongoing road upgradation of the State Highway from Thalassery to Valavupara under the KSTP. The team also reviewed the progress of the construction of bridges as part of the project.

“The World Bank team did not raise any issues with regard to the progress of the ongoing work in the Thalassery-Valavupara stretch,” KSTP Kannur division executive engineer K.A. Jaya said when contacted by The Hindu. The works were progressing without hitches, she said, adding that efforts were under way for sorting out some issues regarding land required for the completion of the Eranholi, Iritty and Kootupuzha bridges under construction.

Stalled works for the construction of the bridge at Eranholi near Thalassery resumed after the State government decided to raise its vertical clearance in compliance with the National Waterways (NW) norms. The works had to be stopped following a directive from the Chief Minister’s Office that the NW norms be complied with. The directive had come when seven of the 10 girders of the new bridge were completed. According to KSTP officials, 172 cents have to be acquired as the bridge works were re-designed.

Some design changes were also made with regard to the Iritty bridge under construction after the test piling was washed off a few months ago. The works are now in full swing, the officials said.

The development of the road on the northern side of the bridge required additional land for clearing sight distance and junction improvement. Steps are under way for the acquisition of 152 cents there, they added.

Initiatives at the level of the State government are also under way for sorting out objections raised by the Karnataka Forest Department citing that the part of the land where another bridge is being constructed at Koottupuzha, close to the Kerala-Karnataka border, is theirs, they said.