Keralam pushes key road projects; Centre signals support

Keralam has submitted an initial proposal to upgrade the Thiruvabharana Patha, the road connecting Pandalam and Pamba that is crucial for the Sabarimala pilgrimage, and to renovate the MC Road under the PM Gati Shakti scheme. Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer took up these and other major road projects in the State with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari during a meeting in New Delhi.

According to Mr. Basheer, the Centre is prepared to sanction additional road development projects for the State. The proposals to upgrade the Thiruvabharana Patha and renovate the MC Road under the PM Gati Shakti scheme were discussed at the meeting. PWD officials said a detailed proposal, including detailed project reports for the Thiruvabharana Patha upgrade and MC Road renovation, would be submitted by the State soon.

The alignment for the Kothamangalam bypass has also been approved, while the land acquisition proceedings for the Kodungallur-Angamaly bypass will be expedited, the Minister said. The Centre is also expected to approve five projects worth ₹111.27 crore under the annual plan.

Mr. Gadkari also informed the State that approval from the Alignment Approval Committee (AAC) for the proposed elevated NH 966 corridor between Ramanattukara and Kozhikode Airport would be granted soon. The Centre has also adopted a favourable stance towards the construction of a flyover at Kayamkulam as part of the widening of National Highway 66.

Earlier in July, during an initial meeting between Mr. Basheer and Mr. Gadkari, Keralam secured Central approval for National Highway development projects worth ₹2,039 crore. These included ₹1,663 crore for the four-laning of the Kadavoor-Anjilimoodu stretch of the Kollam-Theni National Highway; ₹172 crore for the Ramanattukara-Chandranagar section of NH 966; ₹98.40 crore for works on NH 744; ₹66 crore for the Kazhakkoottam-Balaramapuram stretch of the old NH 66; and approximately ₹49 crore for the Bairakuppa bridge across the Kabani River in Wayanad.

The latest discussion was also a follow-up to the earlier meeting. The Centre assured Keralam that Central assistance for the development of the State’s road infrastructure would continue to be made available. Public Works Secretary Adeela Abdulla and National Highway Division Chief Engineer Isaac Varghese also participated in the meeting with the Union Minister.