Mohammed Ali wins multicrore Express Highway project in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram - February 13, 2003 A multi crore Access Controlled High-speed Corridors project connecting Kasargod and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is likely to be awarded to the prominent Non Resident Indian businessman Dr.P.Mohammed Ali. One of the richest Indian in the Gulf, Mohammed Ali who had a humble beginning from Oman has been a successful businessmen.

According to KM sources, a high level decision has already been taken to give the Highway project to Mohammed Ali, the darling of several ministers in the Antony Government. According to a leading state government official involved in the decision making, the green signal to grant the Express Highway project is already given.

The toll-real estate based HSC project is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever attempted by the Kerala Government. KM understands that Dr.P.Mohammed Ali with close political links in Kerala has managed to win the one and only viable investment project proposed in the recently held Global Investors Meet . All other projects presented in GIM are said to be not viable. Mohammed Ali has already acquired the Ashoka Hotel, Kovalam at what is said to be a throwaway price. It is also likely that the road toll, which will be kept minimum in the beginning will be jacked up later to as high as Rs.500 per vehicle. It is not known whether any other consortium would be involved in the project.

The High Speed Corridor project has been proposed to be constructed as a 2-lane dual carriageway, in plain, rolling and mountainous terrain. The width of the 2-lane carriageway is proposed to be 7.5m and the Right of Way (RoW) is proposed to be 60m, says the feasibility report.

Mohammed Ali is close to Kerala politicians like Kunjalikutty, the industry minister, Muneer, the PWD minister, K.V.Thomas, Tourism Minister and M.M.Hassan, NORKA Minister who all played key roles in organizing the Global Investors Meet. Despite concerns and criticism that the project is the beginning of a long term plan to convert the public road network in the state to private parties, such a project is vital to improve the declining quality of road transport sector in the state.

. Mohammed Ali has to his credit the Nedumbassery International Airport, which is still run with government support and participation. The road project too is likely to get the necessary patronage from the state government, it is learned. The project would make it possible to travel and bring goods from the northernmost tip of the State to the southern end within six hours. Goods from Vadakara can be brought to Kochi within a matter of two hours. The original project cost was Rs.6000 crores. It is likely that the state government will levy a cess of Re 1/- on each litre of diesel and petrol being sold in the state.

keralamonitor.com