A. Harikumar
Thiruvananthapuram, March 11. Kerala’s road development remains focused on widening existing narrow roads and developing junctions to remove traffic bottlenecks. This is evident in the Kerala budget 2022-23 introduced by finance minister K.N. Balagopal in the state assembly today morning. The budget has earmarked Rs 2000 crore for Silver Line semi high speed rail corridor. The minister expressed the hope that the project will get the approval of the union government soon, despite the criticism against it from the opposition.
However, new flyovers, underpasses, metros or mass rapid transport systems have not found any mention in the second budget of Mr Balagopal.
New bypasses, outer ring road
The new projects that find mention in the budget include a proposal to build six by-passes for which Rs 200 crore has been earmarked and development of 20 busy junctions in towns across the state for which also Rs 200 crore has been earmarked. The budget has plans for developing Kochi water metro for which Rs 150 crore is earmarked. One of the major allocations in the budget is earmarking of Rs 1000 crore for the development of Thiruvananthapuram outer ring road announced earlier. The budget has also allocated Rs 1500 crore for the development of Thiruvananthapuram-Angamali MC Road and Kollam-Chenkotta Road.
The Thiruvananthapuram outer ring road which is estimated to be 78.88 km long will extend between Navaikkulam on Kollam border to Vizhinjam port, located after Thiruvananthapuram city. This will be a four lane road which connects all existing roads with a provision to add two lanes to it if needed. The road is being built under the Bharatmala Pariyojana scheme of the union government with the support of Kerala government. The Rs 1000 crore earmarked in the budget will be routed through KIIFB for land acquisition.
In his 2.5 hour long budget speech the minister stressed the role of KIIFB in the development of roads. The nearly 600 kilometre long NH 66 is being developed with the active financial support of the KIIFB, he said. The KIIFB is providing 25 percent of the funding for the National highway development and 50 percent funding for the development of other highways. The minister said a sum of Rs 1.3 lakh crore is being spent in five years for the development of roads in Kerala.
Though Kerala roads are considered to be the worst roads in the country at present as they are narrow and the traffic volume is staggering, Kerala government is trying its best to develop roads using available resources.
Governance and technology
Elaborating the efforts for bettering the governance and introduce new technology, Mr. Balagopal said 1700 km roads have been built in the state using rubber mixed bitumen in the last three years to increase its durability. Further, 298 kilometres of road has been constructed using 421 tonnes of plastic wastes during the period. Coir geotextiles has been used to strengthen the shoulders of 19 km road. He said a new system of contract namely Output and Maintenance Based Road Contract is being introduced at present which will ensure seven years of hassle-free maintenance of roads. The running contract system has already been introduced. The minister said a new project management software is being developed by the PWD for the proper management and review of its projects .
