The Union government has selected Kovalam, along with 12 other places, for a major road improvement project aimed at enhancing connectivity near tourist destinations.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways last week in New Delhi, according to Shashi Tharoor, MP. A sum of Rs.22 crore had been allotted for road development in Kovalam under the project.
The project involves improving and strengthening 24 km of major district roads (MDRs).
“It is aimed at improving the condition of roads in the Kovalam-Neyyattinkara and Kovalam-Poovar corridors. Apart from tourism development, there will also be valuable spin-offs for the agriculture, industrial and other commercial sectors,” he said.
Beneficiary roads
The project, beginning from Kovalam, will pass through the newly developed road under the Kerala State Road Transport Project (KSTP) and then cover the Kanjiramkulam-Poovar stretch. The Neyyattinkara-Kovalam road via Olathani, Pazhayakada, and Kanjiramkulam is the shortest route connecting NH 66 at Neyyattinkara to NH 47.
Connectivity
The project will offer good connectivity for NH 47 with the Thiruvananthapuram-Neyyattinkara combined bypass near Kanjiramkulam. Mr. Tharoor said the proposed development of Vizhinjam harbour had necessitated speedy connectivity with other parts of the State and Tamil Nadu. Traffic intensity had also increased to a great extent and the improvement through the project would be of crucial significance.
