Allocation for the long-term maintenance of 1,000 km of select roads with World Bank assistance and the development of a coastal corridor between the Vallarpadam container terminal to Kozhikode via Ponnani are the highlights in the budget for the Public Works.
The feasibility study for a suburban highway between Thodupuzha and Ernakulam has also been announced with a token provision of Rs.50 lakh in the budget.
A sum of Rs.3 crore has been given for the coastal corridor.
Service roads
Service roads will be constructed along the National Highway 66 by widening the carriageway on the Thaze Chovva- Puthiya Theru and Kuttipuram- Puthuponnnani stretches at a cost of Rs.4 crore.
The Palluruthy- Naalpathady road will be constructed at a cost of Rs.4 crore.
A flyover is to be constructed at Vazhuthacaud in the capital for easing traffic congestion and a sum of Rs.1 crore has been provided for initial expenses.
Finance Minister K.M. Mani provided Rs.51.75 crore for completing the ongoing works of government buildings and construction of new ones as part of the Public Office Building Construction programme.
The Civil Station at Thodupuzha will get an annexe and Rs.2 crore has been provided.
New bridge
A new bridge will be constructed to replace the existing bridge over the Korappuzha at Elathoor linking Kozhikode with Koyilandy.
The bridge over the Iruvanjippuzha linking Kozhikode- Kodanchery- Thiruvambady panchayats will be renovated at a cost of Rs.5.25 crore.
Funds for bypass works
Adequate funds will be made available for the Kollam and Alappuzha bypasses that had been approved. The Painavu- Idukki bypass has been given an allocation of Rs. 1 crore.
A Rs.5-crore PWD building complex has been sanctioned in memory of former Deputy Chief Minister Avukaderkutty Naha in Malappuram to house various offices under the department.
A token provision has been provided for the Kerala Maritime Board set up for the administrative control and management of non-major ports.
A 600-tonne bulk barge is to be constructed by the Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation and Rs. 5 crore has been provided.
The Kollam-Kottapuram inland waterway will be commissioned this year and Rs. 5.6 crore has been provided for paying compensation to the fishermen whose nets had been removed for developing the waterway.
