The Hindu Business Line : Kerala: Rs 459 cr to be invested in fast-track projects

VARIOUS agencies undertaking a slew of specific fast-track projects identified by the State Government have decided to commit an investment of Rs 459 crore on these projects.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Thiruvananthapuram Airport Development Society will together invest Rs 120 crore and the Railways Rs 339 crore on these developmental projects conceived on October 21 this year.

Announcing this, an official said here that `fast track projects' have been defined to include the following infrastructural development projects: The first phase of development of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, railway doubling, four-lane conversion of national highways, access rail and road facility to the Vallarpadam Container Terminal and the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).

The Railways will invest the maximum funds (Rs 325 crore) on gauge conversion in the Kollam-Punalur section. Thirty-seven acres of land have been acquired for the purpose.

Land acquisition: The first phase of developmental works at the Thiruvananthapuram airport is estimated to cost Rs 120 crore. Twenty-seven acres of land had been acquired already for the purpose. Acquisition of another two cents of land, which had seen protracted legal battle over ownership and compensation, has now been settled.

The Railways will invest Rs 9 crore on the Thalangara Bridge No 1201 project in Kasaragod district. Land admeasuring 2.35 acres has been acquired for the project. Other Railway projects are the Dharmadom Sub-bank Bridge (Rs 2 crore) and the Pallikkunnu Block No 74 (Rs 3 crore). Land acquired for these projects are 0.58 acres and 0.90 acres respectively.

The Chief Secretary, Mr Babu Jacob, is coordinating the works on a day-to-day basis.

Earlier last month, the Government had set up a separate administrative cell for fast track projects headed by Mr Gyanesh Kumar, Secretary (Resources), Department of Finance.

Master plan for Kochi: A high-level meeting convened by the Chief Minister to discuss complaints on issue of building permits in Kochi has resolved to draw up a comprehensive master plan that incorporated the developmental aspects of the city.

The spokesman said that the Corporation of Kochi would prepare the master plan in consultation with the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and the Department of Town Planning. Till such time as it is done with, the City Corporation would be authorised to grant `zonal concessions' on permits subject to the provisions of the Kerala Municipal Building Rules.

The Minister for Local Self Government, Mr Kutty Ahmed Kutty, informed the meeting that the State Government was taking all steps to simplify the building construction rules.

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