Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal has directed the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) CEO to allocate Rs 1,900 crore for land acquisition for the proposed Angamaly–Erumeli Sabari railway project.

The minister also granted in-principle approval for Rs 5,217 crore to widen the MC Road into a four-lane corridor from Keshavadasapuram in Thiruvananthapuram to Angamaly. In addition, Rs 600 crore has been earmarked for land acquisition to establish K-Space’s Aerospace Control Systems Complex at Veli in the state capital.

Including these, projects worth Rs 8,081 crore have received in-principle approval.

At a KIIFB Board meeting held on Friday, projects worth Rs 689.45 crore were formally sanctioned. With the latest approvals, the total value of projects under KIIFB has reached Rs 1.10 lakh crore. So far, KIIFB has spent Rs 38,608.52 crore on infrastructure development across Kerala.

MC Road expansion and bypasses

The minister said developing major junctions along the MC Road is not practical. Instead, seven bypasses will be constructed to ease traffic congestion. The bypasses are planned at Kilimanoor, Nilamel, Chadayamangalam, Ayoor, Kottarakkara, Pandalam and Chengannur. The remaining stretches will be upgraded to four lanes.

Balagopal also criticised the National Highways Authority, alleging that it has not delivered on its commitments.

Projects sanctioned

  • Work Near Home expansion – Rs 153 crore
  • Kozhikode PUKC Road – Rs 166.55 crore
  • Thrissur General Hospital development – Rs 136.79 crore
  • Valapattanam Kallurikadavu Bridge – Rs 45.89 crore
  • Thiruvananthapuram Mental Health Centre development – Rs 87.68 crore

In-principle approvals

  • Medical equipment for hospitals – Rs 210.51 crore
  • Kozhikode Canoly Canal development – Rs 73.21 crore
  • Ayya Vaikuntha Swami Memorial, Thiruvananthapuram – Rs 3.16 crore
  • Lalithambika Antharjanam Cultural Complex, Kottayam – Rs 25 crore