Kerala: PWD to take monsoon damage stock

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The PWD is assessing the  rain damage to roads  in the state after Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday announced a central grant of Rs 170 crore to do maintenance work on the National Highway stretches across the state. Many roads in the northern districts have been badly affected.  Unlike the previous years, NH roads are better this year. PWD officials told DC that  over  25 km in Kollam district has been damaged. “The state government had sought Rs 400-crore funds for NH road maintenance. But we have been granted only Rs  170 crore.  The union surface transport ministry is supporting the development projects proposed by the state,”  said a  PWD official.

The work on the four-lane Thalassery – Mahe stretch will be kicked off this month. The tendering process for the Kozhikode bypass will be launched in August.  Mr Gadkari has promised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the union cabinet subcommittee will  approve the tendering process for the Kozhikode bypass. The state government will appoint a nodal officer for co-ordinating the land acquisition process which has been affected in certain northern districts. “The  government will  appoint  the special nodal officer.  Following  the CM’s visit to New Delhi on Wednesday, we are hopeful that the centre  and state governments will work  to end the stalemate in  the land acquisition,”  added the official.