The Mananchira–Vellimadukunnu Road Action Committee has urged the State government to speed up land acquisition for widening 8.2 km of the National Highway 212 passing through the city.
Committee president M.G.S. Narayanan, working president Mathew Kattikkana, and general secretary M.V. Vasudevan said that the government should immediately release Rs.25 crore for the purpose. The District Level Purchase Committee had completed its meetings with all stakeholders for acquiring land.
The amount of Rs.100 crore announced by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should be included in the supplementary budget in February and the remaining sum in the annual State budget in March.
A delegation led by the committee submitted a memorandum to Finance Minister K.M. Mani in this regard. Kerala Congress (M) district president John Puthikuzhi and Kozhikode North Assembly president Shaju John were present.
They also requested the Minister to hasten the land acquisition procedures as the draft notification for the acquisition would expire in April.