TRIDA appointed nodal agency

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority (TRIDA) has been appointed nodal agency for the ambitious Attukal development project, Health and Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar has said. The decision was taken on Tuesday at a meeting of project advisors at the TRIDA office here. The project will be completed in a phased manner, the Minister said.  It was also decided at the meeting to widen three roads in the region; the Manacaud-Attukal-Chiramukku-Kalady Road; the Manacaud-Konchiravila Road; and the Chiramukku-Konchiravila-Ambalathara Road. The meeting also reviewed the works undertaken ahead of the recently-held Pongala festival at the Attukal Devi Temple. At the last Assembly session, V Sivankutty MLA of the CPM had demanded a separate section at TRIDA and a nodal officer for the Attukal development project. The project involves development of the immediate environs of the Attukal Devi Temple and surrounding wards. In all, 18 wards of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation fall within the ambit of the project. Ahead of this year’s Pongala, the UDF Government had hastily sanctioned ` 12 crore for undertaking infrastructure works. But most of the works could not be completed in time. The Government had sanctioned special funds as money earmarked earlier - ` 12 crore - could not be sanctioned owing to shortage of funds.