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The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Thiru T. R. Baalu today said that all efforts would be made by the Union Government to expedite the implementation of road development projects in Kerala. He gave this assurance to a delegation of Government of Kerala led by the PWD Minister of Kerala, Dr. M. K. Muneer, here.
Dr. Muneer thanked Thiru Baalu for including the entire lengths of NH-17 and NH-47 in Kerala under NHDP Phase-III to be taken up on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. Regarding the progress of these works, he was informed that the work of Feasibility Study and preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Kerala/Tamil Nadu Border on NH-47 is in progress. Further, bids for preparation of DPR for Cherthalal to Thiruvananthapuram stretch on NH-47 and Kozhikode to Kerala/Karnataka Border on NH-17 have already been invited. Thiru Baalu directed that the preparation of DPR for all these stretches of NH-17 and 47 in Kerala should be taken up immediately.
Dr. Muneer stated that the annual plan allocation for Kerala for the year 2005-06 is Rs.55 crore as compared to the last year allocation of Rs.65 crore. He requested for enhancing the annual plan allocation to at least Rs.80 crore for the current year. He also requested for enhancing allocation under maintenance and repair head. Thiru Baalu informed him that the allocation for the current year can be enhanced in case Kerala is able to show good progress of works and the expenditure is incurred timely. The Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways reviews the allocation figures on a quarterly basis and higher allocations are made to performing States.
The Govt. of Kerala also requested for release of the balance Central Road Fund(CRF) funds amounting to Rs.60.7 crore for the years 2000-01 to 2003-04 which have not been released by the Ministry. He was informed that the matter has been taken up with the Ministry of Finance and these funds would be released after obtaining the required concurrence. Regarding the request for sanction of new CRF works for which the Kerala Government has forwarded proposals to the Ministry, Thiru Baalu asked the PWD Minister of Kerala to send a priority list of CRF works so that new CRF works could be sanctioned.
Regarding the request from Govt. of Kerala for construction of Thalassery-Mahe Bypass on NH-17, it was informed that this stretch of NH-17 is covered under NHDP Phase-III Project and the construction of above bypass would be taken up along with four-laning of NH-17.
PWD Minister of Kerala conveyed that the Govt. of Kerala has already incurred an expenditure of Rs.74 crore for land acquisition against the sanctioned amount of Rs.33 crore. Thiru Baalu informed that there are about 10 revised estimates for land acquisition that are pending at various levels. Thiru Baalu directed that these revised estimates may be processed immediately.
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