With the first phase of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) project set to conclude by March 2023, the city corporation faces a stiff task of completing 30 priority projects under different sectors to the tune of Rs 159 crore.
The mission director has communicated that if the corporation fails to get the projects completed by March 31, the entire financial responsibility to complete the project will fall on the civic body. The corporation has communicated to various departments to speed up the implementation of these projects. About 25 projects are being implemented by the Kerala water authority (KWA), while five projects are being done by the city corporation.
The civic body has to complete three storm water drainage projects and two multi-level car parking schemes.
As per the agenda note presented in the recently held council meeting, the projects; multi-level parking (MLCP) at Chalai (behind Putharikandam maithanam and transport depot) phase ll and multi-level car parking at Medical College (opposite the super speciality block) may be transferred to the smart city project.
The civic body has achieved 21% physical progress for the MLCP at Chalai and there is still no progress in the MLCP at Medical College. The storm water drainage projects in Beemapally, Muttathara and Kalady ward are expected to be completed by March 31.
KWA handles one project in the water supply sector and 24 projects in the sewerage sector. It has achieved 85% physical progress in the supply and installation of smart meters (phase I) under the water supply sector and 25% financial progress. As for sewerage works which need to be completed by March 31, the works are in different stages of physical progress.
The civic body has already borne expenses to meet the tender excess for various works and the corporation is keen on avoiding any further expense from the own fund.
The state level technical committee (SLTC) of AMRUT project has already recommended reallocating nearly 50 crore from the cancelled projects of AMRUT-1 to implement new sewerage proposals for the city. The government also issued an order giving sanction for the same.
The ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) has communicated that funding for the on-going projects of AMRUT 1 will be allowed only till March 2023, and states, including Kerala were directed to expedite the projects.
It was also cited that in case of projects where feasibility of completion before the due date is low, the states may stop such projects at an appropriate stage and take up remaining part of the project from other sources. Further, the apex committee of MoHUA directed the states to drop the projects which have got stuck over a period of time due to various issues and where there was low physical progress (less than 10%) and take up such projects under AMRUT 2.
