Key Road Infra projects to be inaugurated by Cochin Smart Mission

The Kerala government is all set to launch key Road infrastructure projects, including Abraham Madamackal Road, which is upgraded as a smart road,  under the Cochin Smart Mission (CSML) on Saturday this week. 

Other renovated roads as Vasco da Gama Square, Dutch Palace Entry area, Open Air Auditorium at Fort Kochi, and Marine Drive walkway will also be inaugurated. The foundation stone of the second tower of Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) apartment, which is being constructed using financial aid from CSML, will also be laid during the occasion.

The renovation work at 20 other roads in Kochi city and 15 roads in West Kochi under the smart city projects are also completed by the authorities CSML. Among the total 35 roads in Kochi city and West Kochi which are being renovated, six roads in the city are being upgraded as smart roads.

According to the smart city mission authorities, there will be more facilities for motorists and pedestrians in the upgraded road projects. Dedicated utility ducts, road furniture including zebra crossing and signage, bus bays, walkways and cycle tracks are some of the features of the smart roads.

The street lights will be lit up by using LED street lights, medians, flowers, and plants on the shoulders of the road, provisions for the visually challenged as well. Junction improvement is also being planned as part of upgrading to smart roads.

Banerji Road, Shanmugham Road, Park Avenue Road, DH Road and South Railway Station Road also are being upgraded into smart roads.

Meanwhile, some smart city projects which should have been completed by March 31, 2020, had got an extension of one more year. Also, there is apprehension over the tenure of projects which are expiring on March 31, 2021.

Currently, projects worth ₹107 crores of the total ₹918 crore projects have been completed under the Smart city mission and the remaining works will take some more time to complete. One of the mega projects CSML couldn't start is the ₹166 crore vacuum sewer project to be implemented in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry areas.