Thiruvananthapuram: The redevelopment of Rajaji Nagar colony in the state capital has taken a step closer to reality with Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL), the implementing agency of the project, set to award the contract for the work next week. Two bidders participated in the bidding process for the revamp of the colony, and the lowest bidder will be selected after the financial evaluation. The technical evaluation has been completed.
Once the bidder is finalised, an agreement will be signed, and the redevelopment work will begin within a month. The refurbishment of Rajaji Nagar is a long-standing proposal to rehabilitate the residents to better living conditions. A senior official of SCTL told TOI that the project completion period is nine months, and the total cost of the project is Rs 9 crore.
“The redevelopment work is set to begin within a month. Currently, 18 families have been relocated into a temporary facility. They will be rehabilitated to the revamped facilities based on the progress of the construction.
Once these 18 families are relocated to the new facility, another 18 families will be shifted to the temporary residing units. This is our plan of action. The bidder will be finalised this week itself, and we expect the completion of the project by March 2025,” said the official.
At present, around 2,000 families live in the 1,100 housing units of the colony. Phase I of the project proposes the construction of 248 units, a proper stormwater network, ac.