Public Works and Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas announced that the long-awaited National Highway development project, connecting Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, will be completed by December 2025.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Chulakadavu bridge construction on Sunday (December 15), the Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to expediting stalled projects through significant financial interventions.
He said the six-lane National Highway project will be opened in phases, with work from Kasaragod to Malappuram nearing earlier completion. The State government, through Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), allocated ₹5,580 crore for land acquisition — an unprecedented move in India’s history of National Highway development, he added.
The Minister credited KIIFB for driving Kerala’s infrastructure progress, stating that over the past eight years, ₹18,445 crore has been invested in 223 roads, 91 bridges, 57 railway overpasses, 15 flyovers, and one underpass across the state.
The Chulakadavu Bridge, a vital connection between Ramanthali Panchayat and Payyannur Municipality, is being constructed across the Payyannur river at a cost of ₹27.94 crore. Once completed, the bridge will reduce the current 5-kilometre travel distance between the areas to just 1.4 kilometres.
Spanning 222.55 metres, the bridge features a bowstring arch in the central span and prestressed concrete girders for the remaining spans. It will include a 1.5-metre-wide footpath on both sides and auxiliary roads of 290 metres on the Payyannur side and 280 metres on the Ramanthali side.
Minister Riyas called the bridge a long-standing dream of the region and urged all stakeholders to ensure its timely completion. The project is expected to be completed in two years, with technical approval granted in August 2023.
Kunhithottam bridge inaugurated across Panapuzha river
The Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed Kunhithottam bridge, built across the Panapuzha river in the Eramam-Kuttur gramapanchayat of the Payyannur assembly constituency.
The minister highlighted the government’s shift towards utilizing advanced construction technologies aimed at enhancing the longevity and durability of bridges. He stated that the state is adopting new methods to minimize the use of natural resources such as rock and sand, promoting sustainable practices in construction.
The Minister emphasized the introduction of ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) as a key component of this new approach. This construction technique significantly reduces the consumption of aggregates, offering enhanced durability and reliability compared to traditional concrete. According to the minister, the UHPFRC method costs only one-third of commercially available concrete while maintaining superior performance.
The government’s policy focuses on reducing costs, lowering raw material usage, and ensuring longer-lasting infrastructure, thereby ensuring sustainable development in the state. This shift in construction practices aligns with the government’s broader vision of minimizing the environmental impact of infrastructure projects, he added.
Published – December 16, 2024 01:12 am IST
