THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major boost to the tourism prospects of the highly-acclaimed tourist hub of Kovalam, the Centre has allotted `22 crore for a major road improvement project. The Centre has selected Kovalam among a list of 13 other places in the country for the project, aimed at improving connectivity around important tourist destinations.
The Union Government took the decision at a meeting, convened by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways last week. The project will result in bringing about a major transformation in road quality in the Kovalam - Neyyatinkara and Kovalam-Poovar corridors, said Shashi Tharoor MP.
In addition to providing a much-needed fillip for expanding tourism in the area, there will also be valuable spin-offs for agriculture, industrial and other commercial sectors, he said.
The project is an important bonus for the capital city and a reward for the persistent efforts made during the past two-and-a half years for the overall development of the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, he said.
In addition, the NHAI recently took the decision to resume work on the four-laning of the entire Kazhakkoottam-Kaliyikkavila NH-47 bypass, a project which had been stuck in limbo for over two decades. The path is struggling with a two-lane stretch between Kazhakkoottam and Kovalam junction.
The current `22-crore project aims at improving and strengthening 24 km of Major District Roads (MDRs) in an average formation width of 12 metres. The proposed road starts from Kovalam through the newly-developed KSTP road and passes through Kanjiramkulam to Poovar. The Neyyattinkkara-Kovalam road via Olathani, Pazhayakada and Kanjiramkulam is the shortest route connecting NH 66 at Neyyattinkkara, on NH 47. The proposed road will have good connectivity with the NH 47 Thiruvananthapuram-Neyyattinkara combined bypass near Kanjiramkulam and the surrounding areas of Chowara and Vizhinjam. The proposed development of Vizhinjam harbour has necessitated speedy connectivity with other parts of the state and Tamil Nadu.