THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Government has announced huge Rs.3 lakhs crores projects in Kerala, including three financial corridors. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the projects during the inauguration of the 15 national highway projects worth Rs.45,536 crores. He said that the face of Kerala will transform once these projects are implemented by 2025.

Through these three projects an industrial corridor of 919 km will pass through Kerala. The expense is Rs.87,224 crores. The country’s longest elevated highway from Aroor to Thuravoor will be included in this. The issues in the development of the national highways will be solved through discussions with the state government. He said that the central government understands the difficulty of the state government in paying 25% of the land acquisition.

Nitin Gadkari said that if the state government accepts some suggestions of the central government, then the state government need not pay for the acquisition. The state government must accept the demand that government land be provided free to central government. Also, the State GST must be avoided for cement and iron.

Minister said that the aim of the central government is to build roads of international standards and also to develop the basic infrastructure of the state. The biggest strength for tourism sector is good roads. When these projects become operational, the tourism sector will grow by three times, observed the Minister.

The financial corridor projects are Thuthukudi – Kochi (166 kms in Kerala), Mumbai – Kanyakumari (644 kms in Kerala), and Bangaluru – Mumbai (72 kms in Kerala).