45-metre-wide road to be laid to port site at Vizhinjam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 2-km stretch of road will be laid to the site of the proposed international port at Vizhinjam in six months, Ports Minister V. Surendran Pillai said here on Monday.

Speaking to The Hindu after a visit to Vizhinjam, Mr. Pillai said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would lay the foundation stone for the road on August 16.

�The area earmarked for the road is full of fields. These will have to be levelled before the 45-metre-wide road can be laid, Mr. Pillai said.

He said a 29-km-long road from Kovalam to Kaliyikkavila would be strengthened and tarred to ply very heavy vehicles. The work would cost Rs.30 crore.

Tenders had been called for putting in place a drinking water supply system for the proposed port.

�The officials concerned have been directed to issue immediately a selection notice and sign an agreement with the appropriate party for the water supply scheme,� Mr. Pillai said.