Economy of Kerala: Difference between revisions

==Infrastructure==

{{See also|Roads in Kerala}}

Kerala has {{convert|331904|km|mi}} of roads, which accounts for 5.6% of India's total.<ref name="eco"/><ref name="road">{{Cite book|title=Ministry Annual Report (2019-20)|publisher=Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Transport Research Wing, Government of India|year=2020|location=New Delhi|url=https://morth.nic.in/sites/default/files/Ministry%20Annual%20Report_2019-20.pdf}}</ref> This translates to about {{convert|9.94|km|mi|2}} of road per thousand people, compared to an average of {{convert|4.87|km|mi|2}} in the country.<ref name="eco"/><ref name="road"/> Roads in Kerala include {{convert|1,812|km|mi}} of national highway; 1.6% of the nation's total, {{convert|4342|km|mi}} of state highway; 2.5% of the nation's total, {{convert|27470|km|mi}} of district roads; 4.7% of the nation's total, {{convert|33201|km|mi}} of urban (municipal) roads; 6.3% of the nation's total, and {{convert|158775|km|mi}} of rural roads; 3.8% of the nation's total.<ref name=":16-17">{{Cite book|title=Basic Road Statistics of India (2016–17)|publisher=Ministry of Road Transport & Highways Transport Research Wing, Government of India|year=2019|location=New Delhi|pages=7–18|url=https://morth.nic.in/sites/default/files/Basic%20_Road_Statics_of_India.pdf}}</ref> Most of Kerala's west coast is accessible through the [[National Highway 66 (India)|NH 66]] (previously NH 17 and 47); and the eastern side is accessible through state highways.<ref name="Kerala PWD">{{cite web |title=National Highways in Kerala |url=http://www.keralapwd.gov.in/getPage.php%3Fpage%3DNH%2520in%2520Kerala%26pageId%3D301&ved=2ahUKEwjRh7jHod7YAhWFmZQKHWSeAeoQFjAOegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw15WM6wG3ueKFD1qj28WEps |work=Kerala Public Works Department |publisher=Government of Kerala }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> New projects for hill and coastal highways were recently announced under [[Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board|KIIFB]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Coastal, Hill Highways to become a reality |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/coastal-hill-highways-to-become-a-reality/article19262450.ece |date=12 July 2017 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=12 February 2019}}</ref> Virtually all of Kerala's villages are connected by road. Traffic in Kerala has been growing at a rate of 10&ndash;11% every year, resulting in high traffic and pressure on the roads. Total road length in Kerala increased by 5% between 2003 and 2004. The road density in Kerala is nearly four times the national average, and is a reflection of Kerala's unique settlement patterns. India's national highway network includes a Kerala-wide total of 1,524&nbsp;km, which is only 2.6% of the national total. There are eight designated national highways in the state. Upgrading and maintenance of 1,600&nbsp;km of state highways and major district roads have been taken up under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which includes the [[GIS]]-based Road Information and Management Project (RIMS).