NHAI work to be terminated soon

October 8, 2013

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DC | Cynthia Chandran |

Picture for representational purpose only.

Picture for representational purpose only.

Thiruvananthapuram: The National Highway Authority of India has decided to terminate the work on the Mannuthy-Vadakkumcherry stretch due to the slow pace of development of the six-lane road.

According to P. Ramanathan, NHAI project director, land acquisition on the stretch was completed in May, but the work is yet to start. Meanwhile, the state Public Works Department officials are still awaiting a call from Union Surface Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes who had promised to expedite the National Highway Development Project (NHDP) and the proposed elevated highway.

The 25-km stretch on the Mannuthy-Vadakkumcherry route is the only road in the state where 60-metre-wide land acquisition has taken place so far. The NHAI official told DC that with no development work taking place on the stretch, he will inform his headquarters about calling off the project.

“We are helpless to continue the work as over six months have passed since land has been acquired,” said Ramanathan. However, top PWD officials feel that the NHAI is resorting to pressure tactics. A senior PWD official told DC that it is the responsibility of the NHAI to resume the development work on the Mannuthy – Vadakkumcherry stretch.

“Even if they call off the project, the PWD will go ahead with the work. As a first step, we will find out the problem and then resume the work,” said a top PWD official.

Meanwhile, the work on the Vadakkumcherry – Valayar stretch, where 30-metre-wide land has been acquired, is progressing well, claimed both PWD and NHAI officials.

Source-http://www.deccanchronicle.com