: Public Works Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju launched the work on a wayside amenity centre at Kuttiathode, near Aroor, on Saturday. The project is the first to be undertaken by the Ashwas Public Amenities Kerala Limited (APAKL), a public limited company that was recently launched under the Public Works Department (PWD) on the lines of the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL).
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kunju said that the project will be completed within six months.
The work was being undertaken under Aroor MLA, A.M. Ariff’s asset development fund. The amenity centre will be constructed on a plot of 50 cents at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crore. The facility will have separate rest rooms for men, women and disabled persons. Other features of the centre will be cafes, ATM, curio shops, play area for children, rope-bridge, drinking water facility, open theatre and a jogging track. The centre is planned to function round-the-clock and its upkeep will be undertaken by levying fees from visitors.
The minister also said that the construction of the Makekadavu-Nerekadavu bridge along the Thuravoor-Pampa highway will be launched soon. An approach road to the proposed bridge will also be built simultaneously. He pointed out that the difficulty in obtaining land for constructing approach roads have affected works on bridges at several places in the State.
Mr. Ariff presided over the function. District panchayat member M.C. Sidharthan, Aroor grama panchayat president C.K. Pushpan, Ezhupunna grama panchayat president K.X. Thankachan, Kuttiathode grama panchayat president Molly Sugunandan, Thuravoor grama panchayat president Rajeswari, Kodamthuruthu grama panchayat president P.P. Madhu, APAKL managing director P.A. Hashim and chief engineer M. Ponamma were among those who spoke on the occasion.
