THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KIIFB executive committee that met here on Friday gave its approval for 33 projects worth Rs 1353.19 crore. With this the total number of projects that have been granted approval has gone up to 276, their total worth reaching Rs 18,939 crore. “Of this Rs 18,939 crore, only projects worth Rs 1300 crore have been given conditional approval,” finance minister Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac said. “The rest of the projects can go ahead and invite tenders,” he added.
The finance minister said that another set of projects worth Rs 3000 crore would be granted approval in February. “Next fiscal KIIFB would grant approval for projects worth Rs 30,000 crore, taking the total investment to an unprecedented Rs 50,000 crore,” Dr Isaac said. The finance minister termed the KIIFB investment as the “stimulus package” for the state’s economy suffering from recession.
The most number of projects, 149, are related to roads and bridges. Their combined worth is Rs 5390 crore. Though power has only three KIIFB projects lined up, its total cost is Rs 5,200 crore. Education sector gets the second highest number of projects, 58. The total investment, Rs 1773 crore. The health sector, though has only 8 projects lined up, will witness a total investment of Rs 1140 crore. KSRTC has been granted Rs 324 crore for the purchase of buses.
