The World Bank has expressed its readiness to provide more funds for the development of the road network in the State, in addition to the second phase of the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).
This was conveyed to Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju during discussions he had with World Bank Director, South Asia, John H. Stais at the bank’s headquarters in Washington on Saturday.
The officials lauded the State for completing the first phase of the World Bank-aided KSTP project that was completed after overcoming several hurdles and delays, official sources said.
During the meeting, the bank officials put forward several suggestions to Mr. Kunju concerning the road network in the State. The World Bank had asked the State to improve asset management in the Public Works Department and to take steps to solve the transport problems and improve parking facilities.
The State had been asked to expand the activities of the Kerala Road Safety Authority and the Kerala Road Fund Board and to go for more public-private partnerships (PPP) for road development, sources said.
The Public Works Minister informed the bank officials that a high-level meeting would be convened within one week to streamline the activities of the Kerala Road Safety Authority and that a road safety audit would be carried out soon.
The much-awaited second phase of the KSTP is aimed at upgrading 367 km of the State highways into world-class standards at a cost of over Rs.1,300 crore.
The Minister said the State had taken steps to overcome problems and delays in the second phase of the KSTP aided by World Bank.
Principal Secretary, PWD, P.H. Kurien; World Bank Senior Transport Economist Simon D. Ellis; Counsellor in the Indian Embassy Sukarthi Likhi; and Chief Executive Officer of the Road Fund Board P.C. Harikesh were present.
