The Kerala Government will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Central government for improvement of various national highways in the State under the National Highways Development Project.
The State Cabinet gave clearance for signing of the MOU at its meeting here on Wednesday. The MOU will cover NH 49, NH 220, NH 212, NH 213 and NH 208. The State government had earlier expressed some reservations on signing the agreement as the Project involved development of the highways with private participation and collection of tolls to recover the investments. However, it changed its views as the Centre was not willing to fund the widening and other improvements.
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told the media after the Cabinet meeting that the collectors would convene meetings of national highway authorities and the people's representatives, including local members of the Assembly, to resolve the issues related to acquisition of land for highway development.
