The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs.25 crore of the Rs.100 crore promised for the Mananchira- Vellimadukunnu road widening project.
Minister for Panchayats M.K. Muneer announced the decision. The amount will be used to acquire land for the project.
Previously, the government had sanctioned Rs.25 crore for the same purpose. In addition to this, Dr. Muneer said a sum of Rs.4 crore would be released to construct a compound wall to prevent encroachment on the government land located in the alignment of the road widening project. The work would be entrusted to the Public Works Department, he added.
Firm on stir
However, the Mananchira- Vellimadukunnu Road Action Committee will go ahead with its agitation plans from Gandhi Jayanti Day on Friday. A hunger strike, get-together of victims, and protest against bureaucrats will also be held at East Nadakkavu from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., M.P. Vasudevan, chairman of the action committee, said.
Gandhian Thayat Balan will inaugurate the satyagraha. Family members of those killed in accidents on the highway will offer floral tributes at the makeshift memorial. About 90 persons have lost their lives in 700 accidents reported on this road since 2011.
Mr. Vasudevan said the government had been playing hide-and-seek on the issue for a long time. A fortnight ago, Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju had assured the panel that the government would release Rs.75 crore for the project within 10 days.
So far, the government had released only Rs.25 crore to widen the 8.4-km stretch of the Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu road of National Highway 766 passing through the city.
A few months ago, Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson promised to release the second tranche of Rs.25 crore when he visited the city. But nothing happened. The funds could be used to improve the junction at Malaparamba, Mr. Vasudevan said.
