The cash-strapped Kerala government will request the Centre to explore the possibility of exempting royalty on earth/boulders and reimbursement of the State Goods and Services Tax component on the National Highway projects — Ernakulam Bypass and Kollam-Shenkottai NH — in the State.
The State has earlier requested the Centre to waive the proposed 25% State share of land acquisition cost for these two projects. In its reply, the Centre has sought inter-alia certain exemptions from the State government, including GST and royalty, for the construction material.
A meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had decided to meet Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday to take up the issues. The Chief Minister will also take up the Outer Ring Road (ORR) project under the Capital Region Development Programme.
