Mass convention for NH development.

The Mananchira Vellimadukunnu Road Action Committee has decided hold a mass convention as part of its third-stage of agitation for widening the 8.4-km stretch of the National Highway 766 passing through the city.

A meeting held at the residence of historian M.G.S. Narayanan recently decided to hold the convention at the Town Hall on September 16. Representatives of political parties, voluntary agencies and experts in transportation sector will take part in the programme. A satyagraha will be launched from the first week of October.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Principal Advisor and State Planning Board member in charge of transportation E. Sreedharan has expressed solidarity with the committee.

'We are planning to have his presence in the city, possibly on September 27,' M.P. Vasudevan, general secretary of the committee, said.

The meeting criticised the State government for not releasing funds for acquiring land for the project.

The only amount the Revenue Department obtained was Rs. 25 crore. The promised Rs. 10 crore for improvement of Malaparamba junction has not been released so far.

The committee also flayed the attitude of the Revenue Department for not attaching the 2.82 acres of government land that is located in the proposed alignment of the road.


THE HINDU