NH66 work needs agri, forest tracts: Minister

Small tracts of agricultural and forest lands may be needed to develop the 600-km-long Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod NH 66, Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran says.

The widening of the stretch forms part of the 84,000-km-long Bharat Mala project. The State government would ensure that there was least disturbance to public interest, he said here, after laying foundation stone for a flyover at Kundannur on the Edapally-Aroor NH Bypass, where three NHs converge.

The Centre was providing funds to the tune of ₹30,000 crore to widen the crucial but narrow NH. Handing over of compensation had begun in northern districts, where the widening process was under way. Widening work in southern districts would begin from November, he said.

‘No’ to toll

Mr Sudhakaran added infra projects worth an “unprecedented” ₹82,602 crore is under way in different parts of Kerala. The State government had already stopped toll collection in eight road and bridge corridors. There was also a proposal to stop toll for another 14 bridges, he said.

Speaking at the function, former MP P. Rajeev, district secretary of CPI(M), said the Centre was duty-bound to provide funds for road development since it levied ₹8 as cess per litre of fuel.