Centre sanctions Rs 2039 crore for National Highway development in Kerala; Rs 172 crore for Kozhikode-Palakkad stretch

NEW DELHI: Public Works Minister P. K. Basheer said that the central government has sanctioned Rs 2,039 crore for the development of national highways in Kerala. He said this after holding talks with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. According to the minister, the funds have been approved for five projects that will be implemented in Kerala in the near future.

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 40 crore for the construction of the Bairakuppa Bridge, which will improve connectivity between Kerala and Karnataka. It has also approved Rs 98.40 crore for works on National Highway 744, connecting Thirumangalam in Tamil Nadu with Kollam in Kerala, and Rs 172 crore for the Kozhikode-Palakkad National Highway.

The Centre has also given in-principle approval for ropeway projects at Sabarimala, Munnar, and Wayanad. The minister said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Sabarimala ropeway project will be prepared soon.

An agreement has also been reached for Central approval worth Rs 1,663 crore to develop the Kadavoor-Chengannur Aanjilimoodu stretch of the Kollam-Theni National Highway into a four-lane road. The minister added that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured him that approval for the Adimali-Kumily National Highway widening project would be granted soon.

"The Centre has instructed to construct an elevated highway from Ramanattukara in Kozhikode to Calicut International Airport. In addition, the Willingdon Island-Kundannoor Bypass will be connected to the Aroor-Angamaly Bypass. Approval for the revised alignment of the Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha bypasses is expected within three months, while the alignment for the Kodungallur-Angamaly Bypass will be finalised soon," the minister said.