Kerala Calling July 2019
Kerala Calling July 2019
Kerala Calling July 2019
2019 JULY 01
MOBILITY
UNCHAINED
Innovative measures by the
Government have immensely
revolutionised the state’s
transport infrastructure.
prd.kerala.gov.in
Kerala Calling
EDITORIAL
Connectivity Matters
s per Niti Ayog’s health Index report Kerala topped other states in
India with an overall score of 74.01. The Niti Aayog’s report has
made Malayalis across the world proud of their healthy state.
The July issue of Kerala Calling focuses on the transport infrastructure that gained extraordinary boost
under the present Government. Undoubtedly, if it goes like this, Kerala will be the hub of a lot of business
activities in the short run.
U.V JOSE I A S
Editor-in-Chief
08 24
Kerala: The Trailblazer KWIL: The Dream Starts
in India’s Own Sailing
Development Story
Special Correspondent
Dr.Shashi Tharoor M.P.
12 26
Shipping The Future
Roads to Development
Prasanth Nair IAS
G. Sudhakaran
Minister for PWD
30
16 Be Faster in The Waters
No more bumpy roads to
Shaji V Nair
high ranges
prd.kerala.gov.in/publication/keralacalling
JULY 01, 2019_VOL 39_NO.09
40
Anchoring a New Era Editor-In-Chief: U V Jose IAS
Co Ordinating Editor: P S Rajasekharan
Deputy Editor In Chief: K P Saritha
Ramachandran Kadannappalli Editor: C Rajesh
Minister for ports Assistant Editor: P K Velayudhan
Assistant Information Officer: Anchitha A
44
Circulation: Unnikrishnan Kunnath
Design & Layout: Mubeen
Printing: Orange Printers Pvt Ltd.,
Semi-High-Speed Rail Line Thiruvananthapuram
Photo Credits: I&PRD Photography Division,
A.S. Sarath Ernakulam
Special Correspondent
VIEWS
ENQUIRIES
Keziah Maria, Dilin Shaji
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EDITORIAL MATERIALS
welcome development, though duced human development With an overall score of 74.01,
not totally surprising. After all, the results comparable to a first Kerala does significantly better
combined influence of our heri- world country. In other words, than its contemporaries includ-
tage of progressive Maharajahs, the Niti Aayog’s report reaffirms ing larger (and richer) states
groundbreaking contributions by a reality that is well known – that such as Andhra Pradesh (65.13)
social reformers and successive Kerala is a trailblazer in India’s and Maharashtra (63.99), which
8 KERALA CALLING JUNE 2019 prd.kerala.gov.in/publication/keralacalling
Kerala has largely been a
lodestar of healthcare in
the country.
Roads to Development
Without any political bias, the PWD has put in place an agenda for the progress of all 140
constituencies in the state. The Department is eyeing construction activities to the tune of Rs
1 lakh crore which would be a boost to the basic infrastructure development in the state.
T he functioning of the
Public Works Depart-
ment in the past two-
and-a-half years reflects the
bold steps taken by the Pinarayi
Vijayan Government towards
The Department, which is march-
ing forward with the motto
‘Puthiya Kalam Puthiya Nirma-
nam’ (New Times, New Con-
struction), has witnessed some
140 constituencies in the state.
The Department is eyeing con-
struction activities to the tune of
Rs 1 lakh crore which would be
a boost to the basic infrastruc-
path-breaking changes in the ture development in the state.
building Nava Kerala. The past two-and-a-half years.
common man had nothing but The Department in a short span The PWD has given the requisite
scorn for the PWD that was of time made giant strides by in- impetus to the Pinarayi Vijayan
infested with graft in the past, corporating environment-friendly Government that is surging
but now the public has great ex- modern construction techniques ahead with a development out-
pectations from the department and doing away with traditional look that matches the expecta-
which has a clear-cut, procedures. Without any political tions of the people. A feather
transparent and corruption-free bias, the PWD has put in place in PWD’s cap is the timely
development agenda. an agenda for the progress of all completion of road repair works
12 KERALA CALLING JUNE 2019 prd.kerala.gov.in/publication/keralacalling
before the start of Sabarimala
pilgrimage season in the past
two years. The Kerala High Court The ‘Kanthal’ patching mix, developed by the Kerala
also lauded the efforts of the Highway Research Institute to fill potholes during the
PWD for completing the road monsoon season, is a perfect example of the
repair works as the Sabarimala
department’s modernization.
pilgrimage season started after
the August floods last year.
Throwing open the Enathu of the buildings and avoid inordi- Highways Authority of India was
Bridge in Pathanamthitta to traffic nate delay in the construction of dragging its feet over the land
in record time, which was a structures. acquisition process. The total
remarkable achievement, shows outlay was split between the
that the department has changed The Engineers’ Congress, the Central Government and Kerala
for the better in a short time. first such meet in the country, Government and a decision to
The Department took great was organised to augment the this effect was taken in 2013.
strides when it put into practice capability of the PWD engineers
the cold recycling technology, and expose them to the latest The former government com-
which is used only in 3 other trends in construction industry. pleted 30% work and had
states, with the help of German The engineers’ exhibition that disbursed Rs 36.8 crore to the
-made machinery to lay the was held in connection with the contractor. The remaining 70%
Purakadu-Pathirappally road in 3rd Engineers’ Congress intro- work was completed under the
Alappuzha district. Another note- duced the latest technological present Pinarayi Vijayan
worthy accomplishment is the advancements to the engineering government.
construction of the model Am- students, engineers and public.
balapuzha-Thiruvalla road using A magazine, Engineer, was The 7-km Alappuzha bypass will
coir geotextiles and natural launched to feature the function- have 2 lanes, and the major part
rubber mix bitumen. During the ing of the Public Works Depart- of the bypass passes over the
first two-and-a-half years, the ment and spread information Alappuzha beach. As per the
Department tasted success while relating to modern technology. law, the rail overbridge should
experimenting with the use of be constructed by the Railways.
plastic waste in the construction The ‘Kanthal’ patching mix, de- The opening of the bypass is put
of road. The Peringadavila veloped by the Kerala Highway on hold due to the delay in build-
-Marayimuttom-Paliyodu road Research Institute to fill potholes ing the rail overbridge though the
was laid using plastic waste in during the monsoon season, is remaining work is over. The proj-
Thiruvananthapuram district. a perfect example of the depart- ect should have been completed
ment’s modernization. on September 14, 2017. Only
The Department had been 15% work was completed by the
instrumental in redefining the Effectively implementing the previous government and not
construction of buildings in the price software, streamlining the even a single span was put in
state in the past couple of years. e-tender facility and constituting place. The Pinarayi Vijayan gov-
The PWD’s expertise is am- social audit committees, com- ernment took the lead in com-
ply reflected in the new Public prising people’s representatives pleting the remaining 85% work.
Library building, which was built and technical experts, had been The project outlay is Rs 348.43
by keeping intact the essence of helpful in curbing corruption in crore and is shared between the
heritage, in Thiruvananthapuram the Public Works Department. central government and Kerala
and the High Court auditorium, government. The government is
which was constructed using The Government decided to con- hoping to complete the project
cutting edge technology. The struct the Kollam and Alappuzha in 3 months’ time.
Regional Design and Quality bypasses to ease traffic on the
Control labs set up in Ernakulam national highway. The Govern-
and Kozhikode are groundbreak- ment constructed a two-lane
ing initiatives to gauge the quality Kollam bypass as the National
[email protected] KERALA CALLING JUNE 2019 13
FIGHT AGAINST GRAFT
The officials who had corruption taint on them were removed from
important positions. The officers who completed 3 years’ service in the
department were transferred.
The officers with integrity and calibre were given positions of authority.
The appointments were made to send out a message that only hard
working officials will be eligible for transfer and further appointments.
The vigilance wing looked into the complaints lodged directly by the
public and grievances aired over phone to the minister.
Apart from making PWD corruption free, the government has given ample
stress to make the department competitive. Now, anyone can call the
minister to air their views.
a e
134 3
PROJECTS under PROJECTS under the
the category: 5755.51 category:
ROADS Crores LIGHT METRO 272.66
OVERBRIDGES Crores
b
17 f
PROJECTS under 1
the category: 1506.25 PROJECTS under
HILL HIGHWAY Crores the category: 27.59
UNDERPASS Crores
c
56 g
PROJECTS under 17
the category: 1566.52 PROJECTS under
BRIDGES Crores the category:
RAILWAY 523.79
d OVERBRIDGE Crores
6
PROJECTS under
the category: 362.85
FLYOVERS Crores
234
TOTAL No. of
PROJECTS
10015.17
TOTAL AMOUNT
Crores
A
has been floated for another three
stretches and the work will be
bumpy ride through started within days. The project is
the high range roads going at a rapid pace. The pro-
in the state will soon posed hill highway envisages the
be a past affair. The major roads development of the much needed
that lead to the mountain areas North-South corridor through the
will be as smooth as the National hilly regions by upgrading/improv-
Highway and that too within a few ing the existing network optimally,”
years. Thanks to the state gov- said Chief Engineer, (PWD Roads).
ernment which decided to speed
up the 1251 km long hill highway There has been a long-standing
project with an effort to end the demand for connecting Thiruva-
travel woes of the farmers and the nanthapuram District in the South
residents living in the high ranges and Kasargode District in the
of the state. North through the hilly regions of
the state. Once the project got
In the latest development, the commissioned, roads will help to
Pinarayi Vijayan led government improve existing connectivity to
has completed the tender pro- many tribal settlements.
ceedings for another three reaches
in the districts such as Kasargod, Interestingly, the hill highway was
Thiruvananthapuram and Wayanad initially conceived by farmers them-
district as a part of the project. selves who perceived the lack of
Earlier, the works began at four transportation facility as a root
reaches, one each in Thiruvanan- cause for the underdevelopment
thapuram and Kollam districts and of the region. At present, those
2 in Kasaragod district, for laying who reside in such regions have to
111 km of road worth Rs 402 bear a higher cost for transporting
crore. the goods and services. But with
the development of the proposed
The 1,251-km-long hill highway hill highway, farmers in the hilly
with an outlay of Rs 3,500 crore regions will get a due price for their
will be put in place after laying products. The proposed highway
necessary connectivity roads and not only a boost for the farmers,
developing the existing roads from but also to the tourism sector.
Nandarappadavu in Kasaragod
district to Parassala in Thiruvanan- Hence, the government is planning
thapuram district. to implement the project with the
[email protected] KERALA CALLING JUNE 2019 17
Kasargodu District
Wayanad District
Thrissur District
Idukki District
Kollam District
Pathanamthitta District
Pathanapuram - Punalur - Anchal -
Placheri - Ranni - Kumbazha - Konni - Pathanapuram
Kulathupuzha - Madathara - Kollayil
Thiruvananthapuram District
T
By Mano Mohan ( Chief Engineer Roads and Bridges )
he dilapidated and over 3000 bridges which are a hakaran in the wake of Ennathu
dangerous bridges vital part of infrastructure bridge issue directed to conduct
in the state will get a elements of roads and Highway a detailed inspection of existing
fresh lease of life as the network, 430 bridges need to be bridges maintained by PWD.
Public Works Department is all rehabilitated or reconstructed.
set to start a ‘mission’ to repair In this view, the Government
the bridges which are posing The department identified these decided to set up a new wing
threat to the commuters. 430 bridges after Minister for for the up keeping, maintenance
Though the state is blessed with public work Department G Sud- and construction of bridges. A
Varkala Tunnel
The backwaters of Kerala once formed the backbone for an intricate canal system that is
regularly listed as one among the finest transportation systems that pre-date the modern era.
Varkala formed the southernmost edge of this system, where people had to disembark before
continuing to Thiruvananthapuram. This break in transportation led to the construction of the
Varkala Tunnel by the British in the 19th century. It began in 1867, during the reign of
Travancore Diwan Sir T. Mahadeva Rao, and 14 years later, Diwan Sheshaya Sasthri saw it
to completion.
Kerala had not seen such an elaborate architectural endeavour at the time. It had two tunnels,
each being completed 3 years apart. Both are 2370 ft. and 1140 ft. respectively, and made the
dream of a direct passageway between Malabar to Thiruvananthapuram. It facilitated trade
and commerce in a huge way, before the advent of railways, air and road transport. Today it is
a great reminder of an architectural marvel that is an integral part of our history.
The Nefertiti is known for its sophisticated elegance, unparalleled comfort and exclusive
presence. It offers exquisite amenities like a 200 pax air-conditioned conference hall,
restaurant, bar lounge, 3D theatre and sun deck. It is an ideal venue for hosting events like
conferences, product launches, board meetings, parties, and numerous other business and
social gatherings. Those who initially doubted the viability of Nefertiti are now making a
beeline to book their tickets. A 24/7 call centre handling customers along with a fully
automated online booking facility hosted on the dynamic website (www.nefertiticruise.com)
has shown how efficiently and effectively a new tourism product could be made viable in
the market in the shortest span of time. Focused B2B marketing and GSA engagement has
made this possible.
By Shaji V Nair
( MD SWTD )
A super fast A/C 5 Rescue cum Ambulance The Department intro- Administrative sanction
tourist–cum-passenger boats were introduced by duced a Solar powered was accorded for building
boat of 120 seat capacity the department in 5 main ferry boat named ADITYA 2 Water Taxies costing Rs.
boat was inaugurated on Stations capable of using for the first time in India 154 lakhs, 2 Passenger –
4-11-18 a Vaikom and for rescue services and Inland Water Transport cum-Tourist boats costing
Ernakulam route facili- Ambulance services and Sector on Vaikom - 300 lakhs for the purpose
tating the ferry of both they were inaugurated by Thavanakadavu ferry of using as See Astamudy
and foreign tourist and Hon’ble C.M on 19-4-18. which is still operating Services and one cruise
commuters smoothly and successfully. vessel costing Rs. 315
abstaining from and road lakhs and the built of
traffic congestions. these vessels is fastly
moving.
Primary steps of
introducing water bus
are in progress.
Mishran E V
Palakkad
Ali Ebrahim
Malappuram
Shivang Yamdagni
Noida
Ramanand
Research scholar
from Bangalore
By RAMACHANDRAN KADANNAPPALLI
( Minister for Ports )
M aritime transport
supports manu-
facture growth,
brings together consumers and
intermediates and capital goods
industries. It promotes regional
12 major Ports and 200 Non Ma-
jor ports. Kerala, our state has
a coastal length of 585km and
also have 60km width.
Guest House/Staff quarters con- 13.7512 Hectars of land of Sea Second phase of Mechanical
structed near Port Directorate at puramboku handed over to Dept. Dredging started at Kodungallur
Valiyathura inaugurated. of Ports entrusting the ownership from 04/12/2018 and the work
in Revenue Dept. Action is being is in progress. Modernization
Alappuzha Port taken to install customs clear- work completed at Kozhikkode
ance measures such as EDI Guest House (Marine Bunga-
In Alappuzha Port a Guest (Electronic Data Interchange), low) and started functioning
House/Staff Quarters inaugurated Plant quarantine Lab, Emigration under port Department.
by Hon’ble Minister for Finance Check Post proper and Security
Dr. T.M. Thomas Isaac. Modified measures. Water Sports
signal station and office complex
are also inaugurated at Alappuzha The passenger Terminal con- Initiated the projects to start
Port. struction of Kollam Port is almost water sports in Alappuzha,
nearing its completion. Kozhikkode & Vizhinjam Ports.
Channel marking Boya
For connecting Kollam Port with Beypore Port
The Work of Channel marking National Highway a 1.12Km road
Boya for inland boats in Muham- from Kollam Port to Kochupla- Completed the work of Gate
ma - Kumarakam Route is in the moodu built at a cost of Rs 7 House and Rest rooms & Facia
final stage with an expenditure of Crores. The same was inaugu- Wall at Beypore Port.
Rs. 15,43,578/- Measures have rated on 19/02/2017. Cargo Land acquisition of Kovilakam
been taken to promote coastal movements through Roads made Land for the development of
shipping. easier and local public are Beypore Port is in progress.
benefited through this facility. Govt. fixed the land value of
S
Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd )
100% Green Project Drives mode shift from polluting Buses & Private vehicles. By
2028, SHSR will divert road vehicles and trucks from the road,
A strategy was adopted to recycle steel and concrete during causing a reduction of approximately 2,37,663 tons of carbon
the construction. Along with that the recycling and reuse dioxide equivalent and 3,81,899 tons by 2051.
of construction waste, use of new low emission construc-
tion equipment, replacement of inefficient truck engines
and irrigation pumps, urban forestry program etc are other
proposed strategies. The Station buildings, depot, adminis-
trative building and other service buildings will be designed Transit-oriented development to maximize the non-fare box
based on the platinum rating standard of Indian Green revenue.
Building Council.
feasible and financially viable for this project. nanthapuram and 90% parallel from Thirunavaya to
Kasaragod with railway bypasses at Vadakara and
Kerala Railway Development Corporation Limited Thalassery.The curves in the initial 300-km corridor
(KRDCL) has commenced steps to go forward will have to be straightened to lay the high speed
with the project. Discussions are going on with railway line.
multinational funding agencies.First trains on this
track will have 9 fully air-conditioned aluminum The line will reduce pollution on the roads and con-
coaches. They could be extended to 12 or 15 gestion, improve safety and reduce dependence
later. The trains will run primarily on solar energy. on imported oil. Planned urban development of
This will reduce 1.8 lakh metric tonnes of carbon the cities along the corridor, and development of
emissions by slashing road transport on the route new cities along the SHSR line can be used to drive
by 21%. benefits for the socio-economic development in the
The alignment proposed will be 80% parallel to regions served by the line.
the existing tracks up to Thrissur from Thiruva-
My Kochi, My Metro
Since its inception, Kochi Metro has garnered attention for its many
innovative and inclusive measures
O
District Information Office, Ernakulam )
T
By JYOTSNA P ( Assistant Professor in Economics,
Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College Kozhikode )
he budget is detrimental identity of their own, culturally, constitution stressed in the fed-
to the interests of the linguistically and even historically. eral features, not withstanding
states in general and This identity is in no way sep- whatever unitary features it has.
Kerala in particular. The minister arate from the identity of the
and the Union Government are nation. Union Government is When the planning commission
yet to realise that strong states supposed to assume the role was done away with, and the
are in no way inconsistent with of a facilitator or coordinator to planning policy was given a
the concept of a strong centre. ensure equitable distribution of go bye, what states lost was a
Strong states are imperative for a resources and balanced devel- forum, where they could raise
powerful union, as states are the opment that reassures that no their demands and express their
factors that constitute union. The region is lagging behind. The genuine grievances. When, the
budget too should not forget the centre should not act as an over- centre started to finalise the
fact that states too have genuine lord. That is why framers of the terms of reference of the suc-
50 KERALA CALLING JUNE 2019 prd.kerala.gov.in/publication/keralacalling
cessive Finance Commissions,
states lost yet another field,
where they could play a role in
highlighting the genuine de-
mands. Both the dissolution of
planning commission and the
unilateral intervention of the
centre in the finalisation of the
terms of reference of the finance
commissions went a long way
in accelerating the process of
discriminatory treatment of states
on political considerations. The
economic policy, which was
rejected at hustings by the peo-
ple of states were thrust upon
the state governments, by linking
the policy of liberalisation
- privatation - globalisation to
the further allocation of funds
from the centre. This negates the
very concept of democracy; it
goes without saying. Many of the
items, which figured in the state
Without sufficient help from the centre, the state
list were unilaterally taken away will not be in a position to meet the heavy
and included in the union list, expenditure, involved both in the compensation
resulting in heavy revenue loss and in the rebuilding.
on the part of states and heavy
mobilisation of resources in the The unprecedented floods last so that the state will be at liberty
union exchequer. At the same year had a devastating effect to go in for further grants and
time, a series of responsibilities, both on land and on the econo- loans from various sources and
involving heavy financial expendi- my of Kerala. Even the reputed mobilise the fund required for
ture were passed on by the cen- international agencies such as the times to come. The budget
tre to the states and it resulted in UN team, World Bank team etc. conveniently slips this point too.
heavy pauperisation of the latter. estimated that the loss will go
One has to go through the Union beyond 31,000 crores, which is When statutory rationing was in-
Budget 2019-20, against the more than the annual plan size troduced in Kerala, an assurance
backdrop of what had happened that we have. Without sufficient was given on the floor of the
on these lines in the financial help from the centre, the state parliament by the Centre, that
relations between Union will not be in a position to meet the food deficiency will be
Government and states. A perus- the heavy expenditure, involved bridged from the central pool,
al of it enables us to realise that both in the compensation and as the deficiency is a sequel to
the Union Budget 2019-20 is yet in the rebuilding. But, the centre the centers insistance that the
another blow to the states which chose to ignore the dire needs state should shift its focus from
stand already weakened. One of the state in this regard and traditional crops to cash crops,
can notice a considerable reduc- refused to allocate even a penny specially spices, as it would
tion; to be precise, a fall of in the budget. fetch foreign exchange in a big
Rs. 91,000 Cr in the gross reve- way to the foreign exchange
nue from the central taxes and it Government of Kerala has been reserve of the centre. The state
is calculated that 40% of this will consistently requesting the did as per Centre’s dictates and
have to be borne by the states, centre to raise the debt limit from landed in a predicament, where
which are already relegated to the present 3% to 4.5% at least, it had to go out with a begging
the backdrop of Indian economy.
[email protected] KERALA CALLING JUNE 2019 51
state which will have to suffer the
most due to the hike in the cess
of petrol-diesel prices, as this
is the state which has to import
even food grains from far off
states. The hike effected on pet-
rol-diesel will have a cascading
effect on essential commodities
as it would lead to correspond-
ing hike in freight charge rate
too. The state of Kerala will have
to suffer the brunt of it.
The Government organisation, Kerala Automobiles Ltd (K.A.L), made electric auto
rickshaws for the first time in the country. It will also make electric buses for
KSRTC in collaboration with the Swiss firm HESS. The MoU for this was ex-
changed between K.A.L and HESS.
Kerala Calling RNI 35991/1980 Postal Registraton: KL/TV(N)/104/2018-20 Date of Publication : 01. 07. 2019
Price: ` 12 WPP No. : KL/TV(N)/WPP/148/2018-20
Printed and Published by U.V JOSE I A S, Director, Information & Public Relations Department on behalf of Government of Kerala and
Printed at Orange Printers Pvt.Ltd., Thiruvananthapuram and published at Publication Wing, Information & Public Relations Department,
Government Secretariat Annexe, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Editor-in-Chief : U.V JOSE I A S