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INFRASTRUCTURE 5.5 Transport infrastructure of the State consists of 3.31 lakh Kms of road, 1257 Kms of Railways,
1687 Kms of Inland Waterways and 111 statute miles of Airways and 18 Ports.

5.6 The most important challenge in the road sector involves building all weather roads connecting
each and every village. Even though Kerala is comparatively better placed than most other States, as
regards road length, the condition of many of these roads is very poor. Therefore, the main emphasis
under road development in Kerala has been on improvement and upgradation of existing roads
rather than construction of new roads. The investment need in the road sector is of high magnitude
that are beyond the resources available with the Government. Therefore, there is an imperative
need to motivate private and other non-governmental agencies/corporate sectors to participate in
road construction and upgradation of selected highways. This will be an additionality to Government
investment in the road sector.

State Road Network

5.7 The outlay and expenditure in the Transport sector during 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 is
given in the Table. 5. 1

Table 5.1

Outlay and Expenditure in Transport Sector during 2012-13 to 2014-15
(` lakhs)

Sl. Annual Plan 2012-13 Annual Plan 2013-14 An-
No. nual Plan
Sub Sectors 2014-15

Outlay Expendi- Outlay Expenditure Outlay
ture

1 Port Dept 27759.00 26831.61 7869.00 4533.08 9869.00
(96.6%) (57.6%)

2 Roads and Bridges 54058.00 191337.81 85515.00 124583.64 83641.00

3 Road Transport 6912.00 (353.95%) 7485.00 (145.69%)
5916.71 6965.76 10226.00
(85.6%) (93.06%)

4 Inland Waterways 13339.00 3225.71 13643.00 3451.72 14343.00

(24.18%) (25.3%)

5.8 The major development indicators of transport and communication sector in the State since 2009
are given in Appendix 5.1. On the road front, traffic has been growing at a rate of 10 to 11 percent
every year, resulting in excessive pressure on the roads of the State. The total road length in Kerala
during 2013-14 increased to 3,31,372 Kms. from 2,43,373 Kms in the previous year. Road density
in the State is 852 Km/100 sq.km and it is ahead of the national average of 387 km/100 sq.km. The
length of road per lakh population is 991 km. The roads maintained by different Panchayats has also
increased by 49 percent in 2013-14. Roads maintained by different agencies are given in Table 5.2

and category of road network in Kerala is shown in Fig 5. 1.

Kerala State Planning Board