Kozhikode: After talking to the members of the Mananchira Vellimadukunnu Road Action Committee led by historian M.G.S. Narayanan, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac assured the release of funds for the completion of the project.
Entrusting the responsibility to Kozhikode North MLA A. Pradeep Kumar, Issac directed that a high-level meeting be called with the Public Works Department, Revenue Department, Road Fund Board and Corporation Mayor and also the committee members.
Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, MGS Narayanan said, “The minister has promised that Mananchira- Vellimadukunnu road widening project would be undertaken as the first venture by Kerala Infrastru-cture Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) and also the first project to be implemented under Kozhikode City Road Improvement Project”.
He has also assured that the project would be begun as soon as possible and that the Government would also source more funds for the project, because no funds were set aside for acquiring land in the 2016-17 Twelfth Five Year Plan programme.
It was during the 2008-09 budget that the project to widen the Mananchira—Vellimadukunnu road to a four-track one was announced and Rs 52 crore was set aside for it. The project was notified after two years and a draft declaration issued later in 2013. However, it is yet to take off with the district authorities failing to complete the land acquisition procedures.
