Land acquisition for four/six-laning of the National Highway 66 stretch from Talapady in Kasaragod to Kazhakuttam in Thiruvananthapuram is on track to meet the September deadline, despite opposition from a section of local people over the alignment and compensation due to them.
“The proceedings, including survey by the Revenue Department, to acquire land is going as per the schedule,” an official told The Hindu .
Land needs to be acquired and handed over in the next five months as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set December 2020 as the deadline for completing the widening works.
The 3A notification under the National Highway Act of 1956 has been published for all the eight stretches, including the 172.8-km Cherthala-Kazhakuttam corridor. This will be followed by the 3D notification and procedures to acquire land by removing houses and other structures on it, the official said.
Clear message
The government’s firm stance on land acquisition has sent a clear message of the commitment to develop NH 66 with a 45-m right of way. At the same time, the government is giving a patient hearing to the concerns and apprehension of the people over the proposed alignment. Taking up an elevated corridor to avoid the paddy fields at Kezhatttur was part of the move. But, it has not found takers as around ₹150 crore is needed.
The request of the State, after an all-party meeting, to the NHAI to consider the two alternative alignments suggested by the local people in Malappuram district, including the A.R. municipality, is part of the move.
Changes unlikely
NHAI officials say alterations in alignment are unlikely in view of cost escalation and the prohibitive cost in acquiring land in the State. While the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is paying only ₹65 lakh in other States for acquiring one km of land, it has to pay ₹6 crore for the same in the State.
A total of 2,559.18 hectares is needed for the eight stretches in the State. As land had been acquired at 30 m width over two decades ago, the government needs to acquire the rest 1,131.2 hectares, the official said.
The compensation for those surrendering land will be as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The hybrid annuity model is expected to be adopted to execute the widening works that is expected to cost ₹26,000 crore.
