Thiruvananthapuram: Finance minister Dr T. M. Thomas Isaac in his eighth budget, presented on Friday, earmarked Rs 50,000-crore worth schemes for improving the infrastructure facilities in the state. Dr Isaac earmarked Rs 1,351 crore for roads and bridges and promised an increase by 25 to 50 per cent if required. He said the government hoped to clear the arrears of government contractors running into Rs 1,300 crore by 2018. The list of works to be taken up next year contains 5510 works includes the Kerala State Transport Project comprising of eight projects with a total estimate cost of Rs 580 crore.
Sufficient funds will be provided for reconstructing the bridges in a dilapidated condition. Construction of the 1,267 km-long hill highway will be started by inviting tenders for various reaches in nine districts in parallel, the budget said. KIIFB will invest an amount of Rs 3500 crore required for the construction in these districts-- Kasaragod, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. The 630-km coastal highway which touches nine districts will be 5.5 to 8 meters of wide and will be integrated with the existing coastal road network. KIIFB will invest an amount of Rs 6,500 crore in the project. Dr. Issac has also earmarked Rs 5,628 crore towards other major road development works.
The budget says Rs 12,000 crore will be generated from non-resident Keralites through Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board. A top PWD official, however, told DC on conditions of anonymity that not a single project from KIIFB which was announced last time has been implemented. “As far as I know the government is yet to implement any project which was announced by the LDF Government in July,” said the official. “I have a feeling that his calculations might not go wrong again.”
