KOCHI: In a major breakthrough for widening the Edappally-Kuttippuram stretch of the national highway, the government has allocated Rs 1,777 crore as compensation for land owners. Revenue officials have prepared a plan to complete land acquisition along the stretch within three months and hand it over to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
The allocated fund is for acquiring around 205hectare for widening 63.5km stretch of the national highway from Kadikkad in Chavakkad taluk to Methala in Kodungallur taluk. Revenue minister K Rajan will inaugurate the disbursement of compensation to the land owners at a function to be held at Methala on Monday.
The total amount earmarked for compensation for the land owners along Edappally-Kuttippuram stretch of the national highway is Rs 5,400 crore. The land acquisition process which was started in 2009 hadn’t progressed much till recently. The notification for acquiring land was issued in the same year. The government expedited the land acquisition process after 2018. The acquisition process was completed as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The revenue officials are serving notices to the land owners asking them to move out within 60 days. The compensation amount will be given to the land owners as they submit various documents regarding their holdings. The money for holdings with dispute over ownership will be deposited with the court.
The land acquisition process along Moothakunnam-Edappally stretch of the national highway is also progressing. The road along the stretch has a width of around10 metres. The government had acquired the land required for widening the road to 30m more than three decades ago. But NHAI couldn’t widen the road. Now, measures are being taken for widening it to 45 metres. Foundation stones have been laid in areas where the survey works are completed.
