Many infrastructure projects to take off in Kerala, courtesy GIM

Kochi: Many projects for infrastructure were presented as part of the Global Investor Meet (GIM) held here. The meet was attended by Electricity Minister Kadavoor Sivadasan, Public Works Minister M K Muneer and Transport Minister Ganesh Kumar.

The representative of the Parrison company has come forward showing interest in developing the Beypore seaport. A memorandum of understanding was signed for the first phase of the project that costs Rs 35 crore.

The Rs 8,000-crore Expressway project stretching 507 kms from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod and the Rs 798-crore Skybus project for Kochi were the other star attractions of the meet.

The proposed Expressway will pass through 12 of the 14 districts and drastically cut the travel time between Kasargod and Thiruvananthapuram to five hours. The project will be completed by 2012.

Muneer said the Kerala Road Fund Act and the Highway Protection Act have set the impetus for investment in the road transport sector. Small hydel projects were offered in the power sector as Kerala has numerous natural waterfalls that can be tapped.

The state also has 141 minor ports and 12 major ports with a great scope for development. They include Vizhinjam, Azhikkal in Kannur, Marina in Alappuzha, Thangassery and Beypore.

The Skybus Metro, enabling transport on suspended rails at 100 kms an hour, is offered by Konkan Railways. A two-year completion period has been planned for it. The metro system will be noiseless and the Skybus stations offer further commercial opportunity. The system can transport 20,000 passengers an hour.

There will be lightweight twin cabins almost every minute, the movement of which would be guided by microprocessors. As many as 38 companies have expressed confidence in the project.

The highway projects on offer include a hill road to Sabarimala, from Vadakkancherry to Pollachy, West Coast Highway, Kottayam-Cherthala Highway and Thiruvananthapuram city roads.