Balaramapuram-Vazhimukku: Land acquisition for road widening to be expedited.

The district administration has initiated measures to expedite the land acquisition process for the widening of the Balaramapuram-Vazhimukku Road, a crucial component of the Karamana-Kaliyikkavila Road development project. The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) is set to release ₹102 crore to compensate approximately 70 landowners in Balaramapuram, but delays in fund disbursement have stalled progress on the project.

M Vincent, the local MLA, noted that a monthly meeting led by the district collector on Saturday reached a consensus to accelerate the compensation process for the remaining landowners. "The project has faced significant delays. The government only needs to release ₹102 crore to the landowners, but the delay appears deliberate. Landowners are urging the government to compensate them so work can commence immediately," he stated.

Revenue officials mentioned that some landowners are experiencing issues with outdated or unclear land documents, necessitating re-verification. "Even if we receive the funds, these complications with land documents must be resolved. We expect to call for tenders and start the work within this financial year," a revenue official explained.

So far, around ₹40 crore has been disbursed, while the total amount required for land acquisition stands at ₹97 crore. The acquisition for the 1.5 km stretch at Balaramapuram, part of the Karamana-Kaliyikkavila interstate highway, has been delayed for several months.

Initially, the administration projected that compensation disbursal would be completed by February, with construction starting in April. However, no significant progress has been made. The state government had originally proposed an underpass at Balaramapuram Junction, but the plan was abandoned due to opposition from local traders. The revised plan aims to widen the road to four lanes with a total width of 30.2 meters. Minimal land acquisition will be required along the 300-meter Old Rajapatha stretch, as most of the land is already owned by the state, with only a small portion needed from private owners.

ET