Latest news with #UralungalLabourContractCooperativeSociety
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Amid festive rush, flyover delay causes traffic woes
T'puram: Despite the formal launch of the flyover at the busy Venjaramoodu Junction earlier this year, actual construction is yet to commence due to opposition from local traders. As the Onam season approaches, traffic congestion at the junction has worsened, with long queues of vehicles forming during peak hours, causing severe inconvenience to daily commuters. The flyover project, aimed at decongesting the junction that connects key routes to Nedumangad, Varkala and MC Road, is seen as a crucial infrastructure upgrade for the region. However, local traders have raised concerns about the timing of the construction. They recently submitted a memorandum to Vamanapuram MLA D K Murali, requesting a postponement of the piling and excavation work until after Onam, citing the potential disruption to their seasonal business. Speaking to TOI, Murali confirmed the delay. "We understand the concerns of the traders during the festival season. The piling work for the flyover will begin only after Onam. In the meantime, utility shifting has already started, including the removal of electric poles and overhead cables," he said. KSEB began preliminary utility shifting, which is being handled by Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), the main contractor for the flyover project. The utility work is being closely monitored to ensure smooth execution without major disruptions. While the decision to delay construction may bring relief to traders, daily commuters are bearing the brunt of the congestion. "It's frustrating to sit in traffic for 30 to 45 minutes every morning. We understand Onam is important for businesses, but this junction has become a nightmare for commuters," said Ramesh Kumar T, a private firm employee who commutes daily from Kilimanoor to the city. Residents and commuters have urged the authorities to expedite the flyover construction post-Onam and provide temporary traffic solutions until then. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Rs 25 crore revamp for Varkala's Janardhana Swamy Temple under Swadesh Darshan scheme
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Plagued by infrastructure gaps despite being visited by hundreds of devotees daily, the ancient Janardhana Swamy Temple in Varkala is finally set for a major transformation. The Tourism Department has launched a development project worth Rs 25 crore under the Swadeshi Darshan Scheme to improve basic facilities and enhance the overall pilgrim experience. The Tourism Department has roped in Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) to implement the project, which is expected to be completed by December. Visited by lakhs of pilgrims every year, the temple is a spiritual hub for rituals related to last rites. The adjoining Papansam beach is believed to have the power to absolve sins, and is a key destination for devotees performing Bali Tharpanam and other post-cremation rituals. A senior official of the Tourism Department said that the project has been designed in such a manner meeting all the criteria of the scheme. 'As per the norms, we have to complete the project within six months or else the Centre will cancel the funding. The preparatory work has been completed and the foundation work will be launched immediately. At present, the destination lacks basic infrastructure and being a renowned pilgrim site, pilgrims come from far off places. The project will help improve and fix the existing gaps in the pilgrim infrastructure,' said the official. 'A heritage street will be developed linking the temple and Papanasam Beach with entry points as part of the project. Besides this, a pilgrim facilitation centre will be set up with lockers so that those visiting the temple for rituals can keep their things safe. They can freshen up and change at the centre after performing the rituals at the beach,' the official added. As part of the project an interpretation centre will be set up at the destination to showcase the salient features of Varkala and the ancient history of the temple, which is believed to be 2,000 years old. The ancient pond attached to the temple will be beautified and commercial space will be set up. 'We are planning for a museum that will feature videos and content relating to the history of the destination,' said the official.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
CM Vijayan hands over 332 new homes to displaced fisherfolk in Muttathara
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In A relief to hundreds of displaced fisherman families, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday handed over keys of newly bult houses to 332 beneficiaries at a function held at Muttathara in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. Inaugurating the event, the chief minister said that Kerala with its long coastline faces numerous challenges related to climate and sea erosion. 'The fisherfolk are forced to live close to the sea making them vulnerable to environmental hazards because of the nature of their occupation. The Punargeham scheme was launched to provide safe housing to such communities,' he said. Prathyasa — flat complex for fishermen under Punargeham scheme — was launched in February 2022. Each flat was built at a cost of Rs 20 lakh and includes a hall, kitchen and two bedrooms. The units are estimated to have a market value of Rs 30 lakh. The beneficiaries, most of whom displaced by Cyclone Ockhi, have been residing at Valiyathura godown and school premises. They have been rehabilitated under the scheme. Among the recipients are 162 families who were previously living in rented accommodations, 19 families under government quota, and 133 families approved by the district-level committee. The flat complex has come up on 8 acres of land handed over by the Dairy Department and was constructed at a cost of Rs 81 crore by Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS). Environmental clearance has been granted to construct 18 more flats at Muttathara. The Punargeham scheme, since its launch in December 2019, aims to rehabilitate families living within 50 metres of the high-tide line. Since the launch, the government has given administrative sanction worth Rs 2,450 crore. As many as 9,104 beneficiaries have expressed willingness to relocate under the scheme. As many as 4,421 families have received approval from the district-level committees and around 2488 families have been rehabilitated.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chief minister to hand over flats to coastal community under Punargeham project in Muttathara
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will hand over keys of 332 flats completed under Punargeham project in Muttathara to the beneficiaries on Aug 7. The project aims to ensure housing for the coastal community who have become victims or are at risk of sea encroachment. In the second phase, construction of 68 flats will be completed. The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society is responsible for the construction, with technical oversight by harbour engineering department, said a statement. The flats, named Hope, aim to provide optimism to the coastal population, the statement said. Among the beneficiaries, 162 families were previously living on rent. Nineteen families, considered as special cases, are included in the govt quota for flats. The district-level committee approved 133 beneficiaries and 18 families on the committee's waiting list are also included. The construction of the housing complex commenced in Muttathara village in 2023. The project is spread over eight acres of land transferred from dairy development department to fisheries department. The project is part of a major initiative by the state govt to relocate all communities within 50m of the high tide line in the coastal area to a safe zone. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nur 1 von 10 getesteten Potenzmitteln überzeugt Experten - Das ist der Gewinner Apotheke Regional Undo In the 2019-2020 fiscal, the govt allocated Rs 2,450 crore for all the rehabilitation projects, with Rs 1,398 crore from the chief minister's relief fund and Rs 1,052 crore from the department's budget share, the statement said. Construction of 168 flats approved in Kadakampally and 24 flats approved in Valiyathura St Antony's will begin soon. Proposals for 120 flats in Muttathara, 96 in Karode and 24 in Thiruvananthapuram district are under govt consideration. Cultural and youth affairs minister Saji Cherian will preside over the event. Ministers V Sivankutty, K Rajan, G R Anil, J Chinchurani, MPs and MLAs will also attend the event.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Amayizhanjan Canal cleanup near Thampanoor rail tunnel nears completion
Thiruvananthapuram: Nearly a year after the tragic death of sanitation worker N Joy, who died while cleaning a garbage filled tunnel of Amayizhanjan Canal near Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station in Thampanoor, desilting and renovation work in the area is finally nearing completion. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The works are being carried out by major irrigation department at a cost of Rs 63 lakh. While desilting under the railway tunnel has been completed, works in other parts of the canal remain overdue. The slab-laying work at Vanchiyoor stretch of the canal, which was awarded to Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), has been stalled due to a mismatch between the project's estimated cost and the quoted tender. According to sources, ULCCS quoted a rate that was 79% higher than the department's estimate. As a result, the irrigation department is awaiting sanction from finance department to proceed. A senior official stated that most of the canal works under their jurisdiction have either been completed or were in the final stages. The renovation work from Observatory to Ulloor is nearly completed and the Rs 9 crore project from Ulloor to Pattoor is finished. These efforts included extensive desilting and the construction of reinforced side walls. Similarly, the work from Ulloor to Akkulam is close to completion. These projects are part of a larger pre-monsoon initiative led jointly by major and minor irrigation departments, Thiruvananthapuram corporation and public works department. Amayizhanjan Canal has been one of the key focus areas, particularly the segment running under the railway tracks at Thampanoor, which has been a bottleneck during heavy rains. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In May this year, state human rights commission stepped in, directing irrigation department and city corporation to act immediately to remove accumulated garbage and ensure smooth flow in all the canals. However, fund crunch remains an issue. Meanwhile, authorities claim that the Centre was yet to release Rs 200 crore for the comprehensive flood mitigation project, including clean-up of all canals and drains in the city based on the proposal submitted by Kerala State Disaster Management Authority last year.
