THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The city corporation is set to revive its long-stalled housing project at Poonkulam under the Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) scheme. Initially launched in 2008, the project halted midway due to financial issues.
The scheme aimed to build 120 houses across six blocks for underprivileged families but progressed only halfway, with just two floors completed. Managed by Nirmithi Kendra, the project had an estimated budget of Rs 2.96 crore in its inception, which ballooned to nearly Rs 9 crore over the years, with no further advancement. Now, it has been downsized to rehabilitate 32 families, and the corporation plans to fund the revival itself, according to officials.
The College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram (CET) has performed a stability audit to determine if the existing structures are secure and can be repurposed. Once the audit is finalized, the corporation will issue a new tender to continue construction.
Corporation secretary Jahamgeer S expressed to TOI the civic body’s commitment to complete the project promptly. “We are dedicated to advancing the Poonkulam housing scheme as soon as possible. After obtaining necessary approvals, we will issue the tender without delay,” he stated.
Officials emphasize that the revived project will provide essential amenities such as roads, water supply, streetlights, and drainage, all of which were included in the original BSUP plan.
Poonkulam ward councillor V Prameela mentioned that progress is swift and will be included in the agenda of the next council meeting. “Once approved, we will move forward with the tender,” she stated, adding that the existing building would be demolished for a new structure. “The new houses will be designed as flats, ensuring better convenience for residents. Currently, 12 families are living in a nearby flat,” she noted.
The 17-year delay has frustrated beneficiaries. “When construction began, we felt hopeful. But years passed without progress. We just want the project completed this time,” remarked Rajendran V, a Poonkulam resident.
Construction is anticipated to take 18 to 24 months once it resumes. Officials plan to revise cost estimates to align with current market rates and building standards. The Poonkulam project forms part of several BSUP initiatives that faced delays or discontinuation, leading to Thiruvananthapuram losing approximately Rs 75 crore in housing projects due to slow progression and procedural issues.
Meanwhile, construction began just three days ago for a new building to rehabilitate 105 affected families at Karimadom colony, also under the BSUP initiative. Costford is the designated builder, with an expected completion period of one year.
