Kerala Waives GST and Royalty for Key Highway Projects

The Left government in Kerala announced waiving its GST share and royalty on raw materials for the Kollam-Sengottai Greenfield Highway and Ernakulam Bypass projects. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated this decision supports enhanced road connectivity and infrastructure development. The government continues its commitment to addressing traffic issues by facilitating national highway construction.

The Left government in Kerala has announced the waiver of its GST share and royalty on raw materials for the construction of the Kollam-Sengottai Greenfield Highway (NH 744) and the Ernakulam Bypass (NH 544) projects, following a request from the central government.

This major announcement was made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on social media platforms, X and Facebook. According to Vijayan, the waiver amounts to Rs 741.35 crores, aimed at ensuring the completion of NH 744 and NH 544 at the earliest.

The state government's financial commitment seeks to enhance road connectivity and infrastructure swiftly by foregoing this significant remittance. Vijayan emphasized that, unlike other states, Kerala bore the land acquisition cost for national highways due to the central government's withdrawal, citing its high cost in Kerala. Despite this, the LDF government has shown dedication to solving traffic issues by prioritizing national highway projects.

(With inputs from agencies.)