Thevara- Thykoodam Bund Road to be given land

Kochi: Land acquisition for the 10 km long Thevara– Thykoodam Bund Road, which was on held up for the last few months, has been resumed and is in the final stage.

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which is constructing the road, started acquiring plots through a land swap deal expecting a favorable decision from the State Government. The GCDA needs a formal approval from the Government for the land swap deal.

“The executive committee has decided to acquire land through the land swap deal even when the application is pending with the Government.

The CM has asked the principal secretary to give a report. We can’t further delay the land acquisition since the new road needs to be opened soon for diverting traffic in view of the Kochi Metro Rail works,” said GCDA chairman N. Venugopal.

The Authority has already acquired 60 cents of land and now another 60 cents of land ha to be acquired.

Some land owners are unwilling to surrender their land as only 80 per cent of the total area of land can be given to the landowner in a swap deal.

They also demanded compensation for buildings in their possession, for which the Government approval is required.

Meanwhile, the Authority will soon begin leveling the plots and constructing road. First phase of the construction will start from Kasthurba Nagar.

The road, which will help to decongest SA Road, is one of the major roads that would be developed to ensure better east-west connectivity in the city.