By Assuring the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government’s full support to all types of development in Kerala, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari today said road projects worth Rs. 300,000 crores will be completed in the state during the current central regime.
In a video message to the two-day Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS) 2025, which got underway here today, Mr Gadkari, who is currently abroad, announced 31 new road projects for the state worth Rs 50,000 crore.
“I assure you that we will develop good infrastructure of international standard in Kerala.
Mr Gadkari listed tourism, MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), coir and geotextile industry, rubber and Ayurveda as sectors with enormous potential for growth for Kerala.
As for road transport, he said his ministry has completed projects worth more than Rs 20,000 crores, while projects costing Rs 60,000 crore are being implemented.
Describing road infrastructure as the most important thing for the Kerala’s tourism, business and industry, he also announced 31 new projects for the state worth Rs 50,000 crore. These include five packages of road construction of 120 km at a cost of Rs 10,840 crore. “These five packages are under the bidding stage. Within three months, we will start the work on this project,” he pointed out.
Another project costing Rs. 10,800 crores will provide the seamless connectivity between Palakkad and Kozhikode, linking the northern Kerala and the neighbouring industrial town of Salem, which is very important.
The other important project is Ernakulam bypass (also known as the Angamaly-Kundannoor Bypass), which will connect Karayamparambu on NH 544 to Kundannoor on NH 66. To be built at a cost of Rs 6,500 crore, its length is 45 km. “Within six months, we will start this project. It ensures seamless connectivity and decreases the travel time from existing 1.5 hours to 20 minutes,” he said.
Another project is the Rs. 5000 crore Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road project of length 68.7 km. “We are going to start the land acquisition process and once 90% of the land is acquired, we will start the project. DPR is all ready. The Outer Ring Road will ensure seamless connectivity to Vizhinjam port,” said Gadkari.
The other project announced by the Union Minister was the Rs 3,000 crore four-laning of the Edamon-Kollam NH. The work would begin in four to five months. The DPR is in progress. The road will ensure seamless connectivity between Kollam in Kerala and Madurai in Tamil Nadu. It would decrease the travel time from six hours to two hours.
Mr Gadkari said when he was the Union MSME Minister, he had successfully implemented several projects in this sector. Kerala’s coir industry has a huge potential by using coir fibres and geo textiles. Likewise, tourism has very big potential, and Ayurveda gives it a lot of strength in attracting tourists from India and abroad.
Describing Kerala as one of the really important states in the country and lauding its culture, healthcare, education, and enduring attitude of the people, he said, “Its history is a history of our country.”
