The second phase of the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) which aims at developing 367 km of State highways, in eight corridors, into world-class standards will start on Saturday.
The work is estimated to cost Rs.2,403 crore on completion. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the work on three road corridors in the Malabar region on Saturday. The State had managed to get a soft loan of Rs.1,166 crore from the World Bank for the second phase.
The work on the Kasaragod- Kanhangad (27.76 km) section will be inaugurated at Kasaragod, Pilathara-Pappinissery (20.90 km) at Pazhgangadi, and Thalassery-Valavupara (53.12 km) at Irutty in Kannur. The works were tendered as per the advice of the World Bank to get the work started before the commencement of the south-west monsoon.
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The other stretches identified are Taliparambu-Iratty 4.5 km; Perumpilavu-Pattambi-Perinthalmanna (Nilambur road) 41 km; Chengannur-Ettumanur 47 km; Ettumanur-Muvattupuzha 40.9 km; and Punalur-Ponkunnam-Thodupuzha (PM Road) 132.22 km.
Over 95 per cent land acquisition for this phase was completed during phase one initiated in 2002. The acquisition of the remaining 3.466 hectares is in the last phase, official sources told The Hindu .
After the work, the roads will have a seven-metre carriageway and a width of 10 metre. There will be no medians on these roads.
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Stone mastic asphalt (SMA), a new-generation of mix with high mineral aggregate (stone) content, will be used on an experimental basis on 10 km of roads being developed.