Centre Approves ₹988.75 Crore for 39 Road Projects in Kerala

On 30 October 2026, Kerala Public Works Minister P. K. Basheer said the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had approved 39 road development projects worth ₹988.75 crore under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).

Project approvals and schedule

The projects are expected to develop 486 kilometres of roads across Kerala. The state government has issued administrative approval. Construction is planned to begin in December, subject to technical and financial approvals being completed on schedule.

The Central Road Fund Act, 2000 established the fund’s statutory framework. The Finance Act, 2018 renamed the Central Road Fund as the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund.

Important Facts for Exams

• Cess and appropriation mechanism: CRIF is funded from a cess on petrol and high-speed diesel; receipts enter the Consolidated Fund of India and require parliamentary appropriation before expenditure.
• Expanded statutory remit: The fund’s statutory remit extends beyond roads to specified infrastructure sectors, including railways and inland waterways.
• Administrative versus technical sanction: Administrative approval generally accepts a public project’s need and estimated cost; it is separate from technical sanction of detailed designs and estimates.