Administrative sanction has been received for the construction of ₹50-crore Muvattupuzha bypass, Muvattupuzha MLA Eldho Abraham has said.
Mr. Abraham had raised a submission in the Assembly demanding the speedy implementation of the project during discussions over projects funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
The MLA had sought the details of the funding pattern for the project, which was declared in the 2016 budget before the formation of KIIFB.
The bridge across Muvattupuzha River at Murikkal, which is part of the proposed bypass, has already been constructed.
The project comprises the bypass road starting at national highway 49 and touches M.C. Road across the Muvattupuzha River. A sum of ₹50 crore has been set apart for road and land acquisition. About 400 metres of land for the road between Kadathy and Murikkal has already been handed over to the Public Works Department (PWD).
The initial local-level proposal of land conversion for the bypass was rejected at the State-level.
The recent amendments to the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act left room for special permissions for major State projects. Mr. Abraham said that memorandums had been submitted to the Chief Minister and Revenue and Agriculture ministers for speeding up the process.
The proposed bypass would help people bound for Ernakulam from Kottayam and Thodupuzha side to avoid Muvattupuzha town, which has been reeling under traffic logjams. Apart from easing the traffic in the town, it would also fulfil the demand for a ring road for the town. The bypass would help reduce traffic congestion on NH 49 and MC Road.
The PWD accorded administrative sanction to the project after the Finance Department cleared the project.
Mr. Abraham said that construction works would start as soon as the project report, prepared with the assistance of the PWD, is submitted to KIIFB.