Thiruvananthapuram: New highway cuts rural lifeline

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A network of panchayat roads that used to connect to basic amenities such as hospitals and schools have been buried under a landfill mound created as a part of the second phase of the Kazhakoottam-Karode highway. With officials making it clear that underpasses and flyovers will be provided only in select places, residents are holding meetings under the aegis of various actions councils.

There is an issue in Kanjiramkulam, Thirupuram and Chenkal panchayat but the confusion is highest in Kottukal panchayat where the actual work has already progressed. “The only public hospital in Kottukal panchayat sits atop a hillock called Malamelkunnu. Now a road that connects the panchayat to this place has gone under landfill for the highway. Once completed, the highway will be on a much higher elevation. Unless we are given an underpass, people will have a problem,” said Binu TS member of Punnakulam ward.

Important stretches like Pulingudi road and Thenkavila road have similar problems. “They say byroads that are planned to run parallel to the highway will remain untarred for sometime after the project completion. People who already ceded land for the project are angry. No one knows where there will be entries and exits. A meeting of NHAI officials, the local MLA and MP is scheduled to take place on the issue,” he added. Meanwhile, as per local residents, the panchayats even had several land owners, who did not have vehicles earlier, turning millionaires overnight due to the compensation they received after land acquisition for the project.