No change in status of national highway in Thiruvananthapuram, clarifies PWD

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Public Works Department (PWD) has raised objection towards opening of liquor outlets on either sides of the Kazhakootam - Kaliyikk-avila road passing though the city stating that the road is still part of National Highway as the work on the bypass from Kazhakkootam to Karode was not yet over. According to sources, the PWD has sought a clarification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway on the current status of the Kazhakoottam - Kaliyikkavila stretch, whether it is NH or not. PWD will be also suggesting to the excise department not to allow any liquor outlets to reopen on the grounds that the stretch is not NH anymore.

Already about six beer and wine parlours and bar at a club that were within 500 metres from the Kazhakoottam - Kaliyik-kavila stretch were allowed to resume function on the basis of HC interim orders. The contention of the beer and wine parlour owners was that since an NH bypass has come up, the Kazhakkottam-Kaliyikkavila strecth passing through Kesavadasa-puram - Palayam Statue - Thamapnoor - Karamana could not be considered as a National Highway. However, PWD NH-Division is of the view that the work on the by-pass is only progressing.

“Until the NH is fully bypassed by the bypass from Kazhakkottam to Karaode, the  Kazhakoot-tam -Kaliyikkavila stretch may remain as NH itself,” said  a PWD official. About 40 beer and wine parlours along either sides of the Kazhakoottam - Thampanoor - Kaliyikkavila stretch that were closed on March 31 following the Supreme Court's distance norm were hopeful of resuming function citing the bypass.