Govt school to be relocated for Vattiyoorkavu Jn devpt

T'puram: The 130-year-old Govt Lower Primary School at Vattiyoorkavu in the capital will soon be relocated to make way for the Vattiyoorkavu junction and road development project. The school, which has been functioning at Mannarakonam Junction, will soon be moved to a new location on a 50-cent plot along the Mannarakonam-Melathumele Road.

Vattiyoorkavu MLA V K Prasanth said that the land needed for the school's relocation will be acquired from the Rs 75 lakh allocated from the MLA fund for the construction of a new school building. Work on the new school building is expected to be completed soon.

"Once the demolition of the buildings starts for road development, which is expected in Oct, the school will also be demolished. The tender for the demolition needs to be finalised soon as there is a demand to reduce the tender price of Rs 21 lakh. However, it will be resolved soon," the MLA said.

The general education department has already approved the relocation of the school, ensuring that the project can move forward. However, there was an inordinate delay from the department's side in granting permission to build the new school, causing concerns about the project's timeline.

Currently, the school operates on 33 cents of land situated at a busy junction where two roads meet. As these roads are being expanded into a four-lane highway, the school will lose 12 cents of its land. There are plans to build a govt office complex on the remaining 11 cents of land.

The state govt had granted administrative approval for the school's relocation on Nov13, 2023. Prasanth emphasized that the relocation is vital to accommodate the city's growing infrastructure needs while ensuring that the school remains functional in a safe and accessible location. The new school building will be constructed on the 50-cent plot, offering more space and a better environment for students.

The move marks a significant chapter in the school's long history, with the new facility expected to offer improved infrastructure for the students while making way for vital road upgrades in Vattiyoorkavu.

The school alumni are also set to visit the school before it is demolished for the development project.