The Public Works Department is looking at innovative initiatives for road development, ways to overcome opposition across the State to land acquisition, and new revenue models in Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
These aspects, along with critical gaps in road infrastructure and role of Public Works and Transport Departments in ensuring road safety, will come under the scanner at ‘Perspective 2013,’ a two-day training programme for engineers, to be organised by the PWD here from Wednesday.
The previous editions of ‘Perspective’ had provided an opportunity to the PWD personnel, especially engineers, to get an in-depth knowledge of new trends in the sector, Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju told The Hindu .
The programme, to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, was being organised at a time when the PWD was undergoing a revamp in terms of technological and conceptual advancements, sources said.
Benefits
They said over 250 PWD engineers from various wings would be imparted training. The department’s move to concrete roads, revise the PWD manual, e-tendering, and include road safety and maintenance aspects in contracts on a long-term basis were the outcome of the training programmes and infrastructure conferences, they said. The department had already adapted latest technologies, construction techniques, and management systems for sustainable development and for laying good roads.
Sources said the PWD was going ahead with the move to take up works under the Public-Private-People’s Participation (PPPP) model to overcome the opposition of the people to road development works.
MoU to be signed
A memorandum of understanding would be signed between the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram (CET), and the Kerala Highway Research Institute (KHRI).
The CET and KHRI would join hands for collaborative partnership for advanced research in the field of civil engineering.
‘Infra Insight,’ the findings of the ‘Infrastructure Conference 2012’ organised by the PWD at Bolgatty Palace in Kochi in December last, will be released at the valedictory function on November 7.
The rest house of the PWD at Thycaud had been decked up for the conference with the rooms in the old block and new block being refurbished and the garden in front of the old block being landscaped.
