A 12-hour hartal was organised on the Vyttila-Pettah stretch on Friday, demanding speedy handing over of compensation and announcement of a rehabilitation package for evictees who surrendered land for widening the stretch into a four-lane corridor.
Most shops on the stretch remained closed. Traffic movement was affected in the morning after protesters took out a march and laid siege to the road at Chambakkara. The agitation was organised by the Vyttila-Pettah Road Samyukta Samara Samithi.
General convenor of the Samithi V.P. Chandran said land owners had not been paid compensation, although many of them had handed over title deeds to the Revenue Department about two years ago. “Many traders are tenants and they must be rehabilitated since land acquisition will affect their livelihood,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
He demanded the widening of the narrow 800-metre-long stretch between Vyttila and Kunnara Park since it would become a bottleneck once the stretch from Kunnara Park to Pettah is widened from the present 26 metres to 30 metres.
“This is crucial to lessen traffic congestion near the Vyttila Junction,” he said.
Friday’s siege of the corridor was inaugurated by retired professor K. Aravindakshan. Chairman of the Samithy A.B. Sabu presided. Former MP Sebastian Paul, leaders of political parties and traders addressed the agitators.
ADVERTISEMENT