Kerala’s public works department has formed an expert committee to prepare a 10-year priority list for road development, shifting the focus from isolated project proposals to a state-wide assessment of traffic demand, connectivity, road capacity and safety.
PWD minister P K Basheer said the committee will study the existing road and bridge network, including its capacity and condition, and assess future traffic requirements. It will examine the need for major junction improvements, flyovers and new bypasses before recommending which projects should be taken up first.
The committee will prioritise projects using criteria including traffic demand, connectivity, future urban development and structural safety. Road safety measures, including pedestrian safety, will be assessed separately as part of the exercise.
Retired IAS officer A Shajahan has been appointed chairperson of the committee, while PWD additional secretary Vinod V R will serve as its convener. The members include the chief engineers of the PWD’s roads, bridges and design wings; the managing director of the Kerala State Transport Project; and representatives from the Kerala Highway Research Institute, Natpac and the transportation engineering department of the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram.
The committee will review existing studies and reports rather than begin its assessment without reference to earlier technical work. In consultation with the Kerala Highway Research Institute, it will also frame criteria to classify projects as large, medium or small. The classification is intended to support a more structured priority-setting process across different types of road interventions.
The department’s approach places road development within a broader network assessment. Instead of considering individual projects separately, the committee will examine how roads, bridges, junctions, bypasses and safety interventions respond to present and future traffic needs. The exercise also links project selection to future urban development and connectivity requirements.
The committee has been asked to submit its report to the government within two months of starting its work. Projects identified through the recommendations will be taken up only after the required technical and administrative procedures are completed.
The Kerala Road Fund Board will coordinate the subsequent stages, including project preparation, approval, implementation and monitoring. The Kerala Highway Research Institute will provide technical support to the committee during the assessment and preparation of the priority list.