National highways proposed in Kerala now in limbo
In a fresh representation to Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH), state urged urgent revival of both. Govt asked MPs from the state to take up the matter in Parliament.
The Kozhikode-Mysore economic corridor, envisioned as a seamless 24-hour greenfield highway bypassing ecologically sensitive areas, was initially backed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which engaged with forest department to finalise an alignment that would skirt major wildlife sanctuaries.
However, the state flagged that NHAI was no longer pursuing the project actively—a development it described as "a matter of serious concern.
"
The proposed corridor was designed to offer uninterrupted interstate connectivity between Bengaluru and north Kerala, particularly vital in light of the night traffic ban on NH-766 and other roads passing through Bandipur and Wayanad forests. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan personally raised the issue with Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari during a meeting on Dec 6, 2024 but no follow-up commitments materialised.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years
IC Markets
Learn More
Undo
Equally troubling is Centre's failure to act on its earlier in-principle approval to declare 12 important road stretches in Kerala, totalling 484.6km, as NHs. While the directive to foreclose the preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs) came in July 2020, state is now pushing for these road stretches to be revived under the NH network, given that formal notification never followed despite the initial green light.
The state's latest appeal underscores that these roads are strategically critical and their upgradation is even more urgent, considering Kerala's overburdened road infrastructure. State currently has just about 580km of NHs under PWD's purview. With one of the highest vehicle and population densities in the country, capacity expansion through centrally funded corridors is being projected as a non-negotiable priority.
As these proposals under
Bharatmala Pariyojana
are being discontinued, state has submitted a fresh set of 17 road stretches covering 1,054km for inclusion in Vision 2047 Master Plan, which MoRTH is currently finalising. These corridors have been identified after a new assessment and reflect the evolving transport and logistics needs of the region, Kerala argues.
Adding to its case, govt highlighted that no new major project has been sanctioned for Kerala through PWD's NH wing in the last four years.
It urged Centre to include 14 proposed projects amounting to Rs 6,700 crore in MoRTH's current year annual plan, warning that worsening congestion and infrastructure fatigue would continue unless the pipeline was urgently revived.
As Centre maintains silence despite multiple submissions, state has now shifted gears politically, urging its MPs to escalate the issue in Parliament in a coordinated push. While the projects themselves may have seen bureaucratic limbo for years, state's current campaign signals that the fight for them is anything but over.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Konkan Railway to introduce Ro-Ro car transport facility between Kolad and Verna
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) will introduce a new Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) facility for private car owners from Kolad in Maharashtra to Verna in Goa from August 23. KRCL, which was the first to introduce Ro-Ro in India in 1999 for carrying loaded trucks, is now providing the same model for motor cars. The Ro-Ro car service will operate on alternative days from both sides till September 11. The service will leave at 5 pm from Verna or Kolad and arrive at the destination at 5 am the following day. However, the customers are expected to report at the originating station by 2 pm. KRCL will use a specially constructed rake capable of carrying 40 cars, with two cars on each of the 20 wagons. KRCL has set the freight charge at Rs 7,875 per car, including GST. The customers will have to make a registration payment of Rs 4,000 during booking and clear the remaining amount on the date of travel. KRCL permits a maximum of three individuals per vehicle to travel in an attached coach. Travellers can opt for 3 AC at Rs 935 or Second Seating at Rs 190. The bookings for these services will be from July 21 and close on August 13. The service can be booked both in offline and online modes. If it gets bookings less than 16 in number, KRCL officials said they will cancel the journey and refund the entire registration amount. 'KRCL has decided to start this Ro-Ro to mitigate road congestion, fuel guzzling and vehicle emissions on the Konkan corridor. By extending this model to automobiles, KRCL seeks to offer a safer and more economic mode of transport for long-distance commuters,' said a KRCL official.
News18
12 minutes ago
- News18
NABARD disburses Rs 43,000 cr to Andhra, expands grassroots reach
Agency: Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 21:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Vijayawada, Jul 21 (PTI) NABARD disbursed nearly Rs 43,000 crore in loans and around Rs 32 crore in grants to Andhra Pradesh in FY25, its chief general manager M R Gopal said on Monday. Speaking at The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development's 44th Foundation Day celebrations in Vijayawada, Gopal said the bank made significant progress in supporting rural infrastructure, institutional development, and credit expansion across the state. 'In FY25, NABARD disbursed Rs 42,842 crore in loans and Rs 31.83 crore in grants, and inaugurated district development manager offices in three districts," he said. The launch of new offices in East and West Godavari and Nandyal districts has expanded NABARD's grassroots reach in the state, he added. Gopal also noted that credit flow of over Rs 29,000 crore was achieved through refinance to rural financial institutions. He highlighted the progress in computerising Primary Cooperative Societies (PCS), calling it a 'benchmark for the nation." He also acknowledged the support of the RBI, the State Level Bankers' Committee, and the Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank in the digital transformation. Swipe Left For Next Video View all Commissioner of cooperation and registrar of cooperative societies A Babu lauded NABARD's role in modernising and digitising the cooperative credit structure. He emphasised the need for greater convergence to achieve financial inclusion and strengthen cooperatives across all 26 districts. RBI regional director A O Basheer also appreciated NABARD's efforts in strengthening the cooperative banking framework and enhancing financial stability in rural Andhra Pradesh. PTI MS STH SSK (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments News agency-feeds NABARD disburses Rs 43,000 cr to Andhra, expands grassroots reach Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
12 minutes ago
- Mint
CAG report flags discrepancies in the Centre's fiscal math
India's national auditor, Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), has flagged several fiscal inconsistencies in the Union government's compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, including a substantial ₹ 21.3 trillion in unrealized tax revenues at the end of 2022-23. The CAG's latest report, presented in Parliament on Monday, comes at a time when the government has committed to reducing India's fiscal deficit to below 4.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025-26, as reiterated in recent medium-term fiscal policy statements. However, the audit observations suggest gaps in transparency and data consistency that may undermine its fiscal credibility. The CAG's Report No. 3 of 2025, which assesses compliance with the FRBM Act for the year 2022-23, was earlier presented in the Rajya Sabha on 4 April. The FRBM Act, enacted in 2003 to ensure inter-generational equity in fiscal management and maintain macroeconomic stability, mandates the CAG to carry out an annual compliance review. According to the report, the amount of tax revenue raised but not realized rose by ₹ 5.47 trillion in 2022-23 over the previous year to ₹ 21.30 trillion. Of the ₹ 5.47 trillion, a staggering ₹ 5.28 trillion is not under dispute (meaning it was collectable but had not been recovered), suggesting weak tax enforcement or inefficiencies in recovery processes. A query sent to the spokesperson of the finance ministry did not elicit a response till press time. The CAG audit report also pointed to inconsistencies in key fiscal indicators. For instance, the fiscal deficit figure published in the Union government finance accounts (UGFA) for 2022-23 was ₹ 17.56 trillion, while the budget at a glance (BAG) for 2024-25 cited a lower figure of ₹ 17.38 trillion—a discrepancy of ₹ 18,000 crore. Similar variations were observed in statements on arrears of interest, loans and advances, and fiscal projections published in the half-yearly and medium-term fiscal policy statements, the CAG report highlighted. The amount of arrears of interest shown in the D2 Statement, ₹ 30,735.89 crore, varied from the amount reflected in the UGFA, ₹ 31,226.74 crore, resulting in a difference of ₹ 490.85 crore. The amount of loans to foreign governments in the receipt budget was ₹ 16,489.13 crore, whereas the UGFA showed ₹ 16,353.89 crore, a difference of ₹ 135.24 crore. For loans to states and Union territories, the receipt budget recorded ₹ 2,70,439.38 crore, and the UGFA recorded ₹ 2,70,367.60 crore, a difference of ₹ 71.78 crore. The fiscal deficit (budget estimates) in the medium-term fiscal policy statement was ₹ 16,61,196 crore, whereas in the annual financial statement, it was shown as ₹ 16,61,196.21 crore. Despite these shortcomings, the CAG report acknowledged positive signals on the debt front. Central government debt, which had peaked at 61.38% of GDP in 202-21 due to pandemic-related spending, declined to 57.93% by 2022-23. The CAG, in its report, noted that the pace of debt accumulation in recent years has been lower than GDP expansion, and the debt sustainability indicator for 2022-23 was positive. The ratio of interest payments to revenue receipts—an indicator of fiscal strain—rose marginally to 35.35% in 2022-23, after declining from a peak of 38.66% in 2020-21. The CAG audit report also found that additional guarantees issued by the Centre remained within the legal ceiling of 0.5% of GDP in 2022-23.
