Less than a month after the Kerala Government finally signed the state support agreement for four-laning the two major national highways in the state, the state PWD is set to revive a Rs 10,000-crore mega expressway project connecting the northern and southern tips of the state.

The 520-km expressway connecting Thiruvananthapuram with Kasargode will cut down travel time from the 12 hours at present to just over five hours. Incidentally, the expressway— the biggest-ever infrastructure project in the state— was initially proposed by the previous A K Antony Government, but had run into stiff opposition from the LDF which was then in the Opposition.

"We are trying to revive the North-South expressway project and trying to build a consensus to sort out all issues of concern. The project will mean a lot for the state as it will cut down travel time and give a boost to the economy. Various financial models like Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), annuity, institutional funding through international agencies, like the World Bank, are being considered. We are looking at a timeframe of five to six years to plan, construct and operationalise the project," Kerala PWD Minister Mons Joseph told The Indian Express.

The minister was in New Delhi for an even more surprising appointment. He met the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways T R Baalu to get more of the state's national highway stretches expanded. While earlier attempts by the minister to persuade Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and even interventions by the PM failed to make the LDF Government agree to a toll-based expansion of its national highways, the state has now approached Baalu's office with a wishlist.

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