TRIVANDRUM, 28 January 2003 — That a proposed expressway linking Kerala’s two extremes would encounter roadblocks on the way became clear yesterday when legislators expressed several apprehensions.
The primary concern of legislators from all parties was whether the 507-km access controlled expressway from the state’s southernmost to the northernmost tip would pass through their constituencies.
And grumbles came even from members of the Congress party, which heads the ruling United Democratic Front coalition.
The legislators attended a presentation on the proposed highway in the assembly lounge — the first such interaction outside the house but within the assembly premises — and were given time to ask questions.
Some noted that the proposed four-lane highway would not touch two districts while others complained that 19 entry and exit points on the highway were too few.
Legislators of the Congress, including P.T. Thomas, E.M. Augusthy and K.C. Venugopal, said it was unfair that the hill districts of Idukki and Wayanad did not find a place on the highway.
When things started hotting up, Chief Minister A.K. Antony rose and said the discussion was only meant to initiate public discussion and debate on the proposed expressway. “You must all remember this was mooted in 1997 by the then E.K. Nayanar government and they even showcased it at an exhibition of the US Consulate in Madras. We will go ahead only after clearing all doubts,” said Antony.
According to estimates, the total cost of the highway will be 64 billion rupees — construction cost of 38.77 billion rupees, 17.58 billion rupees for land acquisition and overhead costs of 7.65 billion rupees.
“The project is to be developed in three phases and it is expected to be ready by 2012,” said senior bureaucrat Babu Mathew, who made the presentation.
Explaining the financing, he said by way of equity participation the government and the strategic partners would bring in 6.96 billion rupees each and take a loan of 32.5 billion rupees. “Even after paying a toll, all those who use the highway would gain in money terms, in time saved and also in the safety aspect,” said Mathew.
An initial study done by Lee Associates, an arm of a Canadian consultancy firm, said there would be minimum displacement. It said 3,000 families would have to be rehabilitated while 2,900 hectares of plantations and 800 hectares of agricultural land would have to be taken over.
There would be 21 major bridges, five railway crossings and an under bridge every one kilometer. Provision would also be made for laying a track for a bullet train and communication infrastructure for the future.
Except for the steel to be used, all other raw material would be procured within the state.
