THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Works minister G. Sudhakaran has softened his stand on Keezhattoor bypass citing elevated highway as an option. But NH officials are not enthused. They feel even if the Centre agrees to an elevated highway at the disputed site, it would need a 45-metre wide strip of land acquired. Mr Sudhakaran has written to Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari exploring the possibility of an overhead road there.
He was forced to explore alternatives following stiff resistance by a few farmers who call themselves as 'Vayalkilikal'.
They allege it would kill 250 acres of paddy fields while authorities say they required only 25 acres for bypass in Kannur district. Mr Sudhakaran had described the group in the assembly the other day as "vultures hovering over the paddy fields." He had also accused them of sabotaging development, but he now appears to have buckled down under pressure. "It looks like the minister has got a feeling that when it comes to an elevated highway, the system is to acquire land on air. The land has to be acquired at 45-metre width as per the existing norms, and it is not an easy task," said a senior NH official.
On Thursday, state BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan and senior leader P. K. Krishnadas had called on Mr Gadkari and Union environment minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. They had promised them a favourable decision on their demand to spare the paddy fields. It led Mr Sudhakaran to write to the Union government. Officials have already envisaged several culverts on the stretch. At the same time, there is already an elevated portion at Taliparamba. "The minister has suggested elevated highway without proper consultation," said an official in his department.
