The Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study for the proposed flyover at Sreekaryam on the National Highway 66 corridor will commence soon. The study is mandated by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act.
The city-based Centre for Advanced Research in Health and Human Behaviour (CARB) has been entrusted with the work by the district administration. An agreement has already been signed with CARB.
The physical demarcation of the land needed for the flyover has been completed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the turnkey consultant for the interim works of the Light Metro project from Technocity to Karamana, paving the way for the SIA.
A functionary of the CARB told The Hindu that they had submitted the tool for the SIA to the district administration and the study would commence once the approval was received. Although the Act grants six months for the SIA study, he said it would be completed in three months. The SIA would be followed by public hearing.
Aspects to be covered
The study will look into aspects like whether the land acquisition serves public purpose, the number of families to be displaced, extent of public and private land, houses, settlement and other common properties to be affected and whether the extent of land proposed to the acquired is the bare minimum needed. The initial assessment is that 200 persons/families will be affected by the flyover.
Reduced length
The length of the four-lane flyover, originally proposed at 535 metres, has been reduced by 85 m. Thus, land to be acquired for the flyover, estimated to cost 135.37 crore, has been reduced by the DMRC from the initial 4.91 acres to 3.28 acres.
Already, the government has given approval to the Revenue Department for negotiated purchase of land needed for the flyovers at Sreekaryam, Ulloor and Pattom, all of which will carry the Light Metro too. Administrative sanction has been granted for ₹272.84 crore and the funds will be mobilised from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB).
