The setback for expansion of National Highway in Kerala has brought desperation in the minds of people who have been longing for a while for a traffic-jam free journey from South end to the North end of Kerala.
Nothing much is happening in the works related to the expansion of NH roads. This has been due to the fear of various political parties in power that they will lose vote and due to the fear of opposition from people whose land need to be acquired for the expansion programme.
However during the previous UDF government, something creative was done. If the NH road expansion is not complete, Kerala will be relegated to the back in the area of development. The former UDF government was of this opinion. The subsequent LDF government has also been serious about the NH road expansion.
But now it is heard that National highway authority of India has asked the State to suspend the project till 2021. There is no definite explanation for this stalling of the project. It is only in the Kasargode district the expansion work will materialise since the the land acquisition work are over.
The Centre, which boasts about developing the basic infrastructure, is showing negligence towards Kerala when it comes to the National Highway expansion programme.
Now how can we blame the people who allege that there is politics behind the decision? But there is no substance in the LDF’s allegation that BJP state chief Sreedharan Pillai tried to sabotage the expansion works since the letter shown as proof for this was written sometime in September when the Kerala was being flooded.
3284 acre land was acquired during the end period of the former government for NH works.
For this the total expense was estimated to be Rs 13,136 crore. But as years passed by, more money was required.
When the government goes to acquire land after two years, the price will go further North. Thus if the delay in expansion programme goes on like this, what will be the final fate of these NH roads?