Big boost to infra in Kerala! Nitin Gadkari lays foundation stone for 8 NH projects

New Delhi, October 14: To further boost the infrastructure in Kerala, Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 8 National Highway projects in Kerala on Tuesday with a total worth of Rs.12,692 crores in the presence of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.

 

 

 

While inaugurating the project, Gadkari said that in line with the Prime Minister’s vision for a New India, the development of world-class transport infrastructure has been prioritized through initiatives such as the Bharatmala Pariyojana, India’s largest-ever infrastructure development program.

 

 

 

 

Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said that the development of world-class transport infrastructure has been prioritized through initiatives such as the Bharatmala Pariyojana, India’s largest-ever infrastructure development program.

 

 

 

 

Talking about the Bharatmala Pariyojana, Gadkari said that it was conceptualized through a scientific study of freight traffic movement between key origin-destination pairs to enable efficient freight and passenger movement. He further informed that 35,000 km of National Highways are being developed as a part of Bharatmala Pariyojana in the country. Out of this, 1,234 km of National Highways are being developed as a part of Bharatmala Pariyojana in the Kerala State.

 

Besides, 119 KM of Port Connectivity Roads are planning to upgrade under Bharatmala/Sagarmala Scheme. Many flagship corridors such as Delhi Mumbai Expressway, Delhi Amritsar Katra Expressway, Chennai – Bengaluru Expressway, etc. are also being developed as a part of Bharatmala Pariyojana.

 

Gadkari added that Mumbai – Kanyakumari Economic Corridor with a length of 1,760 km is one such corridor being developed as a part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana. . The corridor improving connectivity to the entire western coast of the country from Mumbai till Kanyakumari is expected to enable the economic prosperity of the region. As a part of the Mumbai–Kanyakumari Economic Corridor, 23 projects with a length of 650 km are being developed in the state of Kerala at an investment of Rs 50,000 crore.

 

The corridor traversing the entire length of Kerala from North to South is expected to be the lifeline of Kerala. The corridor improves connectivity to major cities/towns such as Kasargod, Thalassery, Kannur, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Kochi, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram. He stated that works have been sanctioned and construction is being initiated in another 7 projects of length 177 km at an investment of Rs 11,571 crore. It includes the construction of a high-level bridge at Cheruthoni River, which was damaged/approaches completely washed off due to natural calamities.

 

The new projects will also provide employment to the unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled manpower of the region and will improve safe traffic flow by reducing collisions on the undivided highways and reduce travel time, as well as maintenance cost of the vehicles, and saving of fuel. Implementation of the project would result in enhanced socio-economic conditions of the locality.

 

The event was attended by the Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan and Union MoSs Gen (Retd) VK Singh and V Muraleedharan, Ministers from the State, Members of Parliaments, MLAs, and senior officers from the Centre and the State.