Thiruvananthapuram: The public works department (PWD) has constituted a committee to study road development requirements in the state, including development of major junctions, flyovers and new bypasses, and prepare a priority list, PWD minister P K Basheer said.The committee will assess the existing road and bridge network, its capacity and condition, and future traffic requirements. It will identify and prioritise road projects based on traffic demand, connectivity, future urban development and structural safety.IAS officer (retd) A Shajahan is the chairperson and PWD additional secretary Vinod V R is the convener of the committee. Chief engineers of the roads, bridges and design wings of PWD, the managing director of Kerala State Transport Project, and representatives of Kerala Highway Research Institute, Natpac and the transportation engineering department of College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, are members of the committee.The committee will examine existing studies and reports. It will also, in consultation with Kerala Highway Research Institute, frame criteria to classify projects as large, medium and small.Road safety measures, including pedestrian safety, will also be assessed separately.The committee has been asked to submit its report to govt within two months of starting its work. Based on its recommendations and after completing the required technical and administrative procedures, the identified projects will be taken up by Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB).KRFB will coordinate subsequent processes, including project preparation, approval, implementation and monitoring. The institute will provide technical support to the committee.The exercise is aimed at preparing a 10-year priority list for road development based on traffic requirements, safety, connectivity and future development, instead of considering individual projects separately.
