Thiruvananthapuram: Confusion persists regarding the approval by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for compensating landowners in Balaramapuram. This is delaying the four-lane widening of Kodinada-Vazhimukku stretch under the Karamana-Kaliyikkavila highway development project.
Parassala MLA CK Hareendran claimed that KIIFB approved and released funds to compensate the remaining 58 landowners, assuring that payments would be disbursed within two weeks. According to Hareendran, Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), the project's executing agency, is set to call for tenders in Dec, with construction to begin in Jan next year.
However, district collector Anu Kumari contradicted the MLA's statements, saying KIIFB is yet to release the funds and compensation is still due to 140 landowners. "The fund is under the finance department's consideration, and without its release we cannot proceed. The number of pending claims stands at 140, and not 58," she clarified.
Project delays amid financial constraints
The 1.5-km widening project faced repeated delays due to state govt's financial difficulties. Landowners in Balaramapuram, whose properties were acquired for the project, have demanded swift compensation to resolve the long-standing bottleneck at Balaramapuram Junction. Revenue authorities confirmed that around Rs 40 crore was disbursed so far, while the total required for land acquisition is estimated at Rs 97 crore. KIIFB is expected to release Rs 102 crore to fully compensate the remaining landowners. Despite a Sept meeting, where officials agreed to expedite the process, progress has been slow, leaving the project timeline in limbo.
Revised road-widening plans
The project includes a 30.2-m wide road, abandoning an earlier proposal for an underpass at Balaramapuram Junction due to opposition from local traders. Officials plan to minimize private land acquisition by utilizing state-owned land along a 300-m stretch known as the ‘Old Rajapatha'. Initially, authorities aimed to complete land acquisition by Feb and begin construction by April. However, unresolved financial and administrative issues have stalled progress. The delay in funding has not only caused frustration among landowners but has also jeopardized efforts to address traffic congestion in the region. With no clear timeline for fund disbursement, the fate of the project remains uncertain.