Nitin Gadkari Reviews 21 National Highway Projects in Kerala
New Delhi, October 1: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, reviewed the progress of 21 ongoing National Highway projects in Kerala. These projects span over 747 km. The review took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamba, and Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suressh Gopi, along with senior officials.
In January, Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 12 National Highway projects totaling 105 km, worth over Rs 1464 crore. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that these projects aim to enhance connectivity between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, reduce transportation costs, and decrease road accidents by eliminating black spots.
The projects are expected to generate substantial employment opportunities and foster socio-economic growth in Kerala. Improved accessibility to Munnar is anticipated to boost tourism, and a high-level bridge will eliminate a 27-kilometre detour during floods, benefiting the export of key Kerala products.
Eight major projects, spanning 198 km and worth Rs. 4,043 crores, are at various stages of progress. Detailed project reports for 1,290 km of National Highways, worth approximately Rs. 27,650 crore, are being prepared. Under Setu Bharatam, four Road Over Bridges (ROBs) worth about Rs. 200 crore have been identified.
Some landmark projects include the Thiruvananthapuram Bypass, Thalassery – Mahe Bypass, and Kuthiran Tunnel. Three major Greenfield NH projects are also in the pipeline, including the 4-laning of the Palakkad to Kozhikode section of NH-966, a 4-lane Greenfield Road from Kochi to the KL/TN Border section of NH-85, and the 4-lane Thiruvananthapuram – Kottarkarra – Kottayam – Angamali (MC Road).
Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha that the Kerala government has agreed to share 25% of the land acquisition cost for 16 ongoing projects on NH-66, amounting to Rs. 5748 crore, with Rs. 5581 crore already deposited. The state government will also share 25% of the land acquisition cost for three upcoming Greenfield NH projects, amounting to Rs. 4440 crore. Additionally, the state will share 50% of the land acquisition cost, 100% of the service road cost, and provide exemptions for State GST and royalty for the Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road section of NH-866.
In the last five years, around 160 km of National Highways have been constructed in Kerala. India has a road network of about 66.71 lakh km, the second largest in the world, with National Highways totaling 1,46,145 km.
Doubts Revealed
Nitin Gadkari -: Nitin Gadkari is a politician in India. He is the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, which means he is responsible for the roads and highways in the country.
National Highway -: A National Highway is a major road that connects different parts of India. These roads are very important for travel and transport across the country.
Kerala -: Kerala is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its beautiful backwaters, beaches, and rich culture.
Ajay Tamba -: Ajay Tamba is a person who accompanied Nitin Gadkari during the review of the highway projects. He might be an official or an expert in the field.
Suressh Gopi -: Suressh Gopi is an actor and politician in India. He is known for his work in Malayalam cinema and is also a Member of Parliament.
Thiruvananthapuram Bypass -: The Thiruvananthapuram Bypass is a road project in Kerala’s capital city, Thiruvananthapuram. It is meant to help reduce traffic congestion in the city.
Kuthiran Tunnel -: The Kuthiran Tunnel is a tunnel being built in Kerala. It will make travel through the hilly areas faster and safer.
Land acquisition -: Land acquisition means the government buys land from people to use it for public projects like roads and highways.
Socio-economic growth -: Socio-economic growth means improvements in both the social and economic conditions of people. This includes better jobs, education, and living standards.
Road network -: A road network is a system of interconnected roads. India has the second-largest road network in the world, which means it has many roads connecting different places.
