Chief secretary-led panel to resolve National Highway issues

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The NH-17 and NH-47 will be developed into four lanes and land will be acquired for the purpose at the earliest.

A five-member committee, headed by chief secretary Jiji Thomson, and comprising revenue and PWD secretaries and two NHAI officials, will be constituted to resolve the issues in connection with the highway development.

This was stated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after a high-level meeting with Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi.

The meeting attended by PWD Minister V. K. Ebrahimkunju also decided to extend the NH to Kannur airport and Vizhinjam international transhipment terminal, linking Thiruvananthapuram bypass.

The centre has promised to consider relaxation of cabotage for Vizhinjam project. The state government has to acquire the land for the NH development and the compensation would be provided by the NHAI.

“The committee will sort out the issues in acquiring land on the NH stretches, especially where religious establishments are functioning,” Mr Chandy told reporters.

The Hill Highway, another dream project of the state government, would be constructed by the surface transport ministry.

Mr Gadkari also promised to take up the coastal highway scheme which will be included in the ‘sagarmala scheme’ and developed as a NH project.

“The committee will consider having flyovers at areas where religious establishments are reluctant to part with their land. Land owners will be given good compensation,” said Mr Ebrahimkunju.

Mr Gadkari congratulated the state PWD officials on the city road improvement project which would be replicated in other cities.

Accordingly, central funds would be received for the state project too. The centre also agreed to have a road control room for all the roads and provide funds for the scheme.