The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Policy on road development proposed

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Saturday, May 31, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Policy on road development proposed

Special Correspondent

Project to be prepared for second phase of Kerala State Transport Project

Public Works Minister Mons Jseph says steps will be taken to build a hill highway.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Public Works Minister Mons Joseph said here on Friday that the government would bring in a comprehensive policy on road development in the State.

Addressing a press conference organised in connection with the second anniversary of the LDF government, the Minister said the policy would look at the increasing need for roads and the opportunities before the State over a period of 25 years.

Disparity between the growth in number of vehicles and road development had caused a crisis in the State.

Mr. Joseph said a renewed project would be drawn up for the second phase of the World Bank-funded Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).

Only roads for which land had been acquired or were under acquisition on a fast track basis would be included under the project.

The government would also initiate steps for realisation of the hill highway along the hill ranges of the State (Western Ghats).

He denied that the previous LDF government had decided against the highway on environmental grounds. The highway would be built without destroying hills and forests.

The proposed heavy maintenance project, which would include maintenance for five years in the works contract, would be started this year. The Sabarimala Road Development Scheme would be the first of the works to be taken up under the project.

Quality control offices would be set up in all the districts as part of strengthening the quality control wing of the Public Works Department.

A plan, he said, had been drawn up for reviving the works that had been stalled for various reasons.

A special project would be drawn up to address problems related to building of approach roads for railway overbridges in time.

Priority would be given to construction of overbridges at Kollam, Kazhakoottam, Kozhikode, Paniayankara, Farook, Kottayam, Mooledam and Kumaranallur this year.

He said arrears to contractors totalling Rs. 686 crore had been cleared during 2007-08. Bills totalling Rs.580 crore remained to be paid.

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