Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has decided to develop the National Highway between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram as a six-lane road.
An earlier plan to develop the stretch as four lanes with 45 meters has been altered with a futuristic vision considering the increase in vehicle population.
The National Highway Authority of India has revised its plan for developing the stretch in view of the state Government’s decision. As per the new plan, the six lane track would be developed at 21-meter width on either sides.
This was against the earlier proposal to develop a four-lane at 15-meter width.
The width of medians would be limited to two to three meters. Earlier it was fixed at four meters to five meters width.
The width of service roads on either sides would be slashed from the proposed 7 meters to 5.5 meters.
The alteration in the development plan would jack up the estimate cost by 20 percent.
The proposal for revising the development plan materialized with the Center approving the state government’s new proposal. Work on the first phase is expected to begin at Kasaragod from May 1.
The NHAI authorities have informed the state government its plan to start work from May 1.
About 65 percent of land for road development has been completed in Kasaragod.
The Center has given an assurance that the work could be tendered on acquiring 60 percent land.
The cost for land acquisition in Kasaragod alone has been pegged at Rs.3,000 crore.
Tender process is expected to begin in April. The government is planning to launch the construction work in Kannur and Kozhikode by June and July respectively.
The work is expected to be completed in three years. The process of correcting alignment in areas where there are disputes too are progressing.
The government may go in for minor compromises in those places where there is a stiff resistance against land acquisition.
