THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The highly anticipated redevelopment of Rajaji Nagar (Chenkalchoola) colony has kicked off, with Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) leading the project.
Following an agreement with contractor Subramaniam and Sons, the initial groundwork has commenced, marking a significant milestone in the phased effort to improve living conditions for the colony’s residents.
An official from SCTL confirmed that the bidder agreement has been signed, and preliminary work is in progress. “Two bidders participated, and after a detailed evaluation, the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder,” he said. Construction is expected to pick up full speed within the next two weeks.
With a budget of Rs 9 crore and a targeted completion timeline of nine months, the first phase will include the construction of 248 housing units, a stormwater drainage network, access roads, parking areas, and community spaces, including recreational areas. Eighteen families have already been temporarily relocated to facilitate construction, with further relocations planned as needed.
The redevelopment project encountered delays over the past year, largely due to limited bidder participation in initial tenders, restrictions imposed by the general elections’ model code of conduct, and some resident opposition.
Originally, SCTL planned to temporarily relocate 189 families, though, in light of resident concerns, a smaller number is now being moved in phases.
The sprawling 12.6-acre Rajaji Nagar colony currently houses roughly 2,000 families across 1,100 units. While initially outlined as a three-phase project, the redevelopment will proceed gradually, with the first phase signalling the start of substantial upgrades to the long-established community.
