Coimbatore, Aug 17: : Kerala government has drawn up plans to build an 'expressway,' connecting State's northern tip with the state capital Thiruvananthapuram at the southern end, the State PWD minister Dr M K Muneer said. Pre-feasibility report of the 509 km project of Rs.7,000 is in the final stage and the decision would be taken soon, Muneer told a ‘meet the press’ programme, organised by the Coimbatore press clubs here.

Once the project was completed, the distance could be covered within six hours against 13 to 14 hours needed now to cover the distance, he said.

He said some five to seven companies had already expressed interest to participate in the BOT project. However, tenders would be floated after approval of the project, which would be completed in three years, he said. The expressway would be fully rubberised and besides saving time, it could also bring down fuel consumption, leading to economic development of the state, he said.

It would be linked with the Kochi-Salem highway, which would be developed under Prime Minister's road development project, Muneer added. Bureau Report