The government has been able to change the perception that major infrastructure projects, particularly those needing land acquisition, were “jinxed and correct it by ensuring political consensus and by taking the people into confidence”.”
Stating this in his customary address to the 14th session of the 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly on Friday, the Governor P. Sathasivam said this had instilled “positive confidence” among the administration and people to undertake and execute more development projects.
The government is committed to complete all major infrastructure project that are pending for a long time in the State. The Kollam bypass has been successfully completed and the Gail pipeline, Kochi-Edamon Electric line, Land acquisition for NH four-laning and restoration of National Waterway and Virology Institute are nearing completion.
Mr. Sathasivam said more than 500 projects, including major infrastructure projects in all constituencies, coastal and hill highway, drinking water projects costing ₹41,000 crore funded through KIIFB had been approved. Of these, projects costing ₹9,000 crore had been tendered and work to the tune of ₹5,500 crore had commenced.
The commissioning of the Kannur international airport has opened a new window of opportunity to the people of Malabar. The Governor said the ₹31 crore dividend by Cochin International Airport Ltd. shows the success of the public-private partnerships in the State.
Preliminary works for the proposed Sabarimala airport had commenced. A special purpose vehicle has been set up for the development of the Azhikkal port. The Kollam and Beypore airports are also being developed with basic infrastructure facilities to improve coastal shipping and to reduce the congestion being faced in the road network.
The Governor said financial assistance would be mobilised for dredging of the Kollam and Beypore airports under the Sagarmala project of the Union government. A Harbour Engineering Office will be constructed in Alappuzha and Sub Division office at Manjeswaram in 2019-20.
In tune with the government’s e-vehicle policy that has been approved in principle, all new autorickshaws hitting the road in the cities of Thiruvananthapuran, Ernakulam and Kozhikode will be electric. The KSRTC has already started plying electric buses on a pilot basis in the State.
