New road to be laid in Palayamkottai.

Mayor in charge P. Jeganathan alias Ganesan has initiated talks with 46 persons from whom lands are to be acquired for laying a road to connect Thiruvananthapuram High Road - in front of Nehru open-air auditorium - and South Bypass Road — in front of Rose Mary Mission Hospital.

The 1.20-km-long and 60-feet-wide road will be laid on an outlay of Rs. 19 crore. It is expected to relieve congestion on Thiruvananthapuram High Road between Vannarpet and Nehru open-air auditorium. In view of the high volume of traffic on this stretch, an alternative road to connect Vannarpet with Palayamkottai was planned in 1996. However, delay in acquiring land stalled the project though several rounds of talks were held with landowners.

Mr. Ganesan and a team of Corporation officials inspected the lands to be acquired and had discussions with some of the owners.

The Corporation is all set to start work on laying three new roads - Pothigai Nagar to Tamiraparani Colony, Sarah Tucker College to New Bus Stand, and Arunagiri Theatre to Parvathi Theatre. It managed to get the lands required for laying the three roads as gift through properly executed deeds.

'If we can get these lands also as gift, it will ensure huge savings for the Corporation. So we're persuading the landowners,' Mr. Ganesan said.

When he met them after the inspection at Palayamkottai Zone office, most of the 46 landowners were prepared to gift their land as better connectivity will fetch a premium to their properties.

'If the formalities pertaining to land acquisition are completed immediately, the road will be laid within three months,' Mr. Ganesan said.



THE HINDU