Munnar: The stretch linking Sabarimala and Palani, two major pilgrim centers in south India, will be developed into a National Highway, said union minister for surface transport Nitin Gadkari here on Friday.
He was inaugurating the widening works of the Munnar-Poopara-Bodimettu stretch of National Highway 85.
Considering the request made by Idukki MP Joice George favorably, the Center would allocate funds to upgrade 170 kilometers of the 370-km road under the project. The schedule is to complete the works by 2021.
The minister also informed that funds would be set aside to develop the Kochi-Munnar stretch of NH 85 into four lanes. There is an urgent need to improve transportation facilities to fully tap Munnar’s tourism potential, he added.
A large number of devotees from other southern states, including Tamil Nadu, visit the shrine .
More than 4.5 crore devotees offered prayers at the temple during the festival season last year.
'Kerala to show resolve in land acquisition for road projects'
The union minister said the central government was ready to allocate the required funds to Kerala for national highway development, but land acquisition remains a complex and complicated issue in the state.
"The state ought to change its attitude towards development. If there is no willpower and resolve, nothing other long discussions and surveys will happen," the minister said.
He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the international ship repair facility of the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) at Cochin Port Trust later in the day.
“The Center aims to implement road projects worth Rs 25 crore lakh over a period of five years. Of which, about Rs 7 lakh crore has already been spent. However, a major portion of the fund allotted to Kerala for road infrastructure projects remains unused.
“There are also plans to raise Rs 10 lakh crore from general public through issue of bonds. But without acquiring land for proposed projects, Kerala will not be able to utilize this amount,” he pointed out.
According to the minister, the proposed petroleum pipeline connecting the Kochi refinery and Salem will boost Cochin Port Trust’s revenues.
“It is unfortunate the work on laying the pipeline is still nowhere near completion. Much time has been wasted because of needless discussions and delay in getting approvals from multiple authorities. The state should raise this in Parliament to put an end to such unwarranted and unnecessary practices, he added.
The minister also confirmed that the move to sell Cochin Shipyard’s shares was not aimed at privatizing the profit-making yard.
“The money raised through the IPO will be used for the construction of a new dry and an international ship repair facility,” he said.
He stressed that the state government should devise plans to tap the potential of seaplane services linking various tourist destinations in the state. “It will definitely bolster the state’s tourism sector. Ferry services should also be introduced for cruise and leisure. The state should strive to implement such globally successful models," he said.
The minister also promised land for Cochin Shipyard in other parts of the country for expansion.
KV Thomas, MP, who presided over the function, said the Kochi port needed a ship repair facility that functions round-the-clock.
The Rs 970-crore international ship repair facility could benefit small-scale industries and public sector enterprises in the region, opined state industries minister AC Moideen.
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