representative image Thiruvananthapuram: The much awaited redevelopment of Rajaji Nagar (Chenkalchula) Colony has started Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd. (SCTL) is leading the project.
Following an agreement with contractor Subramaniam & Sons, preliminary ground work has begun, marking an important milestone in the phased effort to improve living conditions for the residents of the colony.
An SCTL official confirmed that the bidder agreement has been signed, and preliminary work is in progress. “Two bidders participated and after detailed evaluation the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder,” he said. Construction work is expected to gain full momentum within the next two weeks.
With a budget of Rs 9 crore and a targeted timeline of nine months, the first phase will involve the construction of 248 housing unitsCommunity spaces including a stormwater drainage network, access roads, parking areas and recreational areas. Eighteen families have already been temporarily relocated to facilitate construction, with further relocations planned as needed.
redevelopment project Delays were faced in the last year, mainly due to limited participation of bidders in the initial tenders, restrictions imposed by the Model Code of Conduct for General Elections and some resident protests.
Originally, SCTL had planned to temporarily relocate 189 families, however, in view of residents’ concerns, a smaller number are now being relocated in phases.
Spread over 12.6 acres Rajaji Nagar Colony About 2,000 families currently live in 1,100 units. Although initially outlined as a three-phase project, the redevelopment will proceed gradually, with the first phase marking the beginning of substantial upgrades to the long-established community.
