Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board sanctions Rs 8041 crore projects

Thiruvananthapuram: In a major push for infrastructure development in the state, the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) on Tuesday approved projects worth Rs 8,041 crore in various sectors. The highest amount of Rs 5,200 crore  was approved for power department for the development of transmission system. The focus will be on improving the power situation in the northern districts. The high tech school programme being implemented by IT@School gets Rs 400 crore. Health sector has received a major financial boost for improving  infrastructure facilities in hospitals, cancer care and modernisation of hospitals. 

The Malabar Cancer Centre has been given Rs 170 crore for various development works in the institute. The Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Kochi has been allotted Rs 310 crore.  The government medical college, Ernakulam, which is set to take up a series of development works has also been given Rs 310 crore. The Public Works Department has been given Rs 605 crore for various roads and bridges projects across the state and 217 crore for road overbridges.

The Water Resources Department has been sanctioned Rs 433 crore for drinking water supply schemes and Rs 100 crore for modernisation of water transport in Alappuzha. The 28th meeting of KIFFBI which was presided over by the chief minister approved Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system through which money for projects is deposited by the board directly in the bank accounts of service provider, supplier and contractors.

In all,  53 projects were approved covering the departments of housing, general education, health and family welfare, power,  public works, water resources and SC/ST development. The projects submitted by various departments were examined in detail before granting approval. The proposed cost of these projects was Rs 9668.07 while the tentative recommended cost approved was Rs 8041 crore. During the first phase,  projects worth Rs 4,022 crore were approved. The tender proceedings of the projects cleared earlier are progressing. Some of the projects of health  and public works department have already reached implementation stage.