80% work on NH stretch complete.

The National Highway wing of the Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to proceed with the detailed project report (DPR) for the widening of the 29.2-km Karamana-Kaliyikkavila stretch of National Highway 66.

Work was stalled with certain sections of the public demanding openings in the median to suit their convenience. The PWD had not ceded to such demands and the ongoing work progressed in accordance with the existing design, an official said.

The four-laning of the first reach of 5.5 km from Karamana to Pravachambalam was 80 per cent complete, official sources said.

While the road has been widened along the entire stretch, tarring and other works remain. Protective walls on either side of the road have been completed. Construction of the pavement was under way and was expected to be over in a few days.

The rain that lashed the city a few days ago had also affected work. However, the ongoing activities were on track and should be completed within the schedule. October 23 had been set as the tentative deadline for the completion of work on the first reach, the official said.

Meanwhile, the recent Cabinet decision to relocate a mosque and tomb at Pappanamcode has cleared a major obstacle to the project. It was decided on Wednesday to acquire nearly four cents of land from the premises of the KSRTC Central Works to relocate the mosque and tomb. While a similar proposal in this regard had been turned down by the KSRTC, it was compelled to cede its land after the State government intervened to resolve the issue. While the district administration was yet to receive the order, the land acquisition process and other procedural formalities were likely to be launched without much delay.

THE HINDU