State will acquire land for NH work: Chandy.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that with the State government taking the decision to accept the general National Highway norm of 45 metres width, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should withdraw the order cancelling the development of the National Highways passing through the State.

Mr. Chandy stated this in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and and Shipping Nitin Gadkari at the inauguration of the third phase of the work on the Kollam bypass recently.

Mr. Chandy assured Mr. Gadkari that land sufficient to develop the National Highways passing through the State as per NHAI norms would be acquired and handed over.

He said that the development of the National Highways from Cherthala to Kazhakuttam and from Edapally to Kasaragod as 45-metre wide stretches was an urgent need of the State.

He called upon the people of the State to extend full cooperation for the project. 'If our roads are not developed like the roads of other States, we will be pushed back. The State cannot afford anymore delay on the development of its road networks,' Mr. Chandy said.

That was the reason why the State government had agreed to a 50:50 contribution for the bypass works in Kollam and Alappuzha though meeting the cost of these works was the responsibility of the Central government.

Getting land for the bypass caused a delay of 40 years in Kollam which resulted in the NHAI giving up the project, he said.

But that could be revived only through the 50:50 formula. This was in spite of the fact that the State was facing financial crisis.

The function was presided over by Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju.


THE HINDU