Roads Worth Rs. 20K for State.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari recently offered Kerala Rs. 20,000 crore for developing roads, but blamed the state for being the most backward when it comes to implementing road projects.

However, State Works Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju countered the charges, saying that land acquisition would be possible in Kerala only if the Union Government agrees to give market price for the acquired property. Gadkari, who arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on his way to Suchindram in Tamil Nadu, said money would not prove a problem in taking up road projects. 'I'm offering Rs. 20,000 crore to the state government. Let them select the roads and give it to me,' the Union Minister said.

The Centre has given the nod to extend the Adoor-Pathanamthitta stretch of the National Highway 185 to Pampa and from there to Vandipperiyar. The extension will be via Vadasserikkara and Llaha. As part of promoting pilgrim tourism, the southern stretch of this highway will be extended to Kottarakkara. During the pilgrim season, development of Pampa-Kottarakkara stretch will be taken up by the centre, he said.

The Centre will also take up the development of the 116-kilometre Adimali-Cheruthoni-Painavu road.

Although the state government had asked for a two-lane road linking Thalassery and Mahe, approval has been given for a four-lane road, Gadkari said.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS