Public Works and Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riaz has announced that the long awaited National Highway Development Project connecting Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram will be completed by December 2025.
Speaking at the inauguration of Chulakdavu bridge construction on Sunday (December 15), the minister said that the government is committed to speeding up the stalled projects through significant financial intervention.
He said that the six-lane national highway project would be opened in phases, with the work from Kasaragod to Malappuram expected to be completed soon. The state government, through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), has allocated ₹ 5,580 crore for land acquisition — an unprecedented step in India’s history of national highway development, he added.
The minister credited KIIFB for Kerala’s infrastructural progress, stating that Rs 18,445 crore has been invested in 223 roads, 91 bridges, 57 railway overpasses, 15 flyovers and one underpass across the state in the last eight years.
Chulakdabu Bridge, an essential link between Ramanthali Panchayat and Payyannur Municipality, is going to be constructed across the Payyannur River at a cost of 279.4 million. After the construction of the bridge, the current distance of 5 km will be reduced to only 1.4 km.
Spanning 222.55 m, the bridge has bowstring arches in the central span and prestressed concrete girders for the rest of the span. It will include 1.5 meter wide footpath on both sides and 290 meter side road towards Payyannur and 280 meter towards Ramanthali.
Minister Riyas called the bridge a long time dream of the region and urged all concerned to complete it on time. The project is expected to be completed in two years after receiving technical approval in August 2023.
Inauguration of Kunhitottam Bridge over Panapuzha River
The minister also inaugurated the newly constructed Kunhitottam Bridge over the Panapuzha River at Iramam-Kuttur Gram Panchayat of Payyannur Assembly Constituency.
The minister said that the government has gone ahead with the use of advanced construction technology to increase the longevity and stability of the bridge. He said that the state is adopting new methods to minimize the use of natural resources such as stone and sand and to promote sustainable practices in construction.
The minister emphasized on introduction of Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) as a key component of this new approach. This construction technique significantly reduces aggregate consumption, providing enhanced durability and reliability compared to conventional concrete. According to the minister, the UHPFRC method consumes only one-third of commercially available concrete while maintaining excellent performance.
The government’s policy focuses on reducing costs, reducing the use of raw materials and ensuring long-term infrastructure, which ensures sustainable development in the state. This change in construction practices is in line with the government’s broader approach to minimizing the environmental impact of infrastructure projects, he added.
published – December 16, 2024 at 01:12 pm IST