Rough sea, heavy rain halt repair of badly damaged Shankhumukham-airport road

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The critically damaged Shankhumukham beach-airport road, the easiest route to reach the domestic terminal from most parts of the city, is unlikely to be restored next month owing to the prevailing inclement weather. The downpour that has lashed the city for the past three days has halted the work, washing away the metal sheet piles that were brought to construct the diaphragm walls to protect the beach and the 330-metre road from sea erosion. It has been more than six months the road, that was gradually gnawed by rough seas was closed by the Publc Works Department.

The connectivity from the airport to the city was cut off and many passengers arriving at the airport had to walk till Shankhumukham lugging the baggage. Taxi drivers use the Vallakadavu route and enter the city through NH66 bypass at Enchakkal. Earlier, Transport Minister and local MLA Antony Raju who visited the spot in September had assured that the road would be opened to traffic from December.