Thiruvananthapuram: National Highway development in the state might get a fresh momentum with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan making it clear that the new government would brook no obstruction to development projects by groups which believe might is right.
The state’s efforts to make the national highways four-lane has been stuck for the last two years as the government was unable to go ahead with land acquisition.
This despite the best attempts by the Union Transport minister Nitin Gadkari who assured the state that the Centre would meet the acquisition costs.
Present status
He even got the state government set up a high-powered committee under the chief secretary in August last year. The committee met three times but has made little headway.
“We need to take a political decision on building the NH on 45 metres,” said PWD secretary A.P.M Mohammed Hanish. “We can proceed with the construction process only if we complete 85 per cent of land acquisition.
Land Acquisition officers are on the job but we need to get the politicians and the people alike on board. The high power committee has to be convened after the break due to the elections.”
National Highway Authority of India is currently developing the Kazhakoottam – Mukkola and Aluva – Paliyekkara – Tamil Nadu border stretches on 45 metres. However, only 30-metre wide land has been acquired for the Ernakulam – Thiruvananthapuram stretch. However, only 30 metres have been acquired on the Ernakulam – Thiruvananthapuram stretch.
President of the Kerala Government Contractors Association Varghese Kannampally said unauthorized encroachments and small businesses that have come up on the 30-metre stretch will have to be removed before the work begins.
