Last KIIFB board meeting of second Pinarayi Vijayan government; total expenditure estimate reach 1.10 lakh crore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It has been decided to provide Rs 1900 crore as the state share for the construction of the Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari railway line and Rs 5,217 crore for the development of the Thiruvananthapuram-Angamaly MC road announced in the state budget from the KIIFB fund. 600 crores will be allocated for the construction of K-Space in Veli, Thiruvananthapuram. Along with this, 689 crores will be allocated for some other projects. The decision was taken at the KIIFB board meeting held in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal.

With this, the total expenditure estimate of the projects undertaken by KIIFB has reached 1.10 lakh crore. The board meeting gave permission to KIIFB CEO Dr. K.M. Abraham to implement KIIFB projects without any hindrance even during the assembly election period. Friday was the last board meeting of KIIFB for the current financial year and the second Pinarayi Vijayan government.

Minister Balagopal said that 78,836 crores have been provided in the state through KIIFB for infrastructure development and 20,000 crores for land acquisition. 38,608 crores have been provided for the cost of the projects undertaken. Out of this, projects worth 24,734 crores have been completed. So far, KIIFB has a loan liability of 18,000 crores.

Other projects worth Rs 689 crore undertaken by KIIFB

(Amount in crores)

Thrissur General Hospital Development........................................ 136

Thiruvananthapuram Mental Health Hospital................................ 87

Conoly Canal................................................................................ 7.3

Kottayam Lalithambika Antharjana Smarakram................................ 25

Ayya Vaikunda Swamy Statue in Thiruvananthapuram................ 3.16

Working at Home Project........................................................153

Development of Sports Facilities.................................................. 9.42

Purchase of Medical Equipment.................................................. 210

Development projects in the state would have stalled if there were no KIIFB mechanism to disburse funds.

-K.N. Balagopal, Finance Minister