Kerala: End in sight for National Highway stalemate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The stalemate on developing National Highway to have four-lane width including service roads is almost coming to an end. By next April, the physical work on developing NH at Kasaragod would be kicked off. This decision was taken at the high level meeting called by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan which was attended by State NH officials, National Highway Authority of India officials and district collectors here at Secretariat on Tuesday.

There has been inordinate delay in land acquisition in northern parts of the state with officials finding it difficult to end the stalemate. Despite the union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari promising to meet the expenses and compensation towards land acquisition, the issue was not resolved. PWD is firm on 45-metre width for the NH expansion despite severe opposition from various quarters. Of the 1,300 hectares of land that had to be acquired in last three decades, only eight hectares had been acquired so far, which reveals the stark reality of NH development in the state. At the high level meeting chaired by the CM on Tuesday, it was also decided to start the NH development work in Kannur by May next year.

"The committee, headed by various district collectors, has been able to sort out the issues regarding land acquisition. Similarly the Kozhikode and Thalassery bypasses would also be started within this fiscal year. District collectors are looking for options on how to rehabilitate the land owners", said a top PWD official to DC. It is reliably learnt that by November 5, a high level delegation led by NHAI officials will be visiting those districts which is facing issues on land acquisition. Also, survey work on Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam and even in southern districts is progressing.