Protest is brewing in Kerala over the State Government’s recent decision to restrict the width of national highway to 30 metre against the stipulated 45 metre.
The trade and industry is up in arms over the move saying that “it lacks farsightedness vis-à-vis growth and development of the State.”
At a time when the National Highway Authority of India is in the process of initiating steps to widen the roads of the country to international standards, Kerala is seem to be thinking otherwise, says P. Narayan, President, Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said.
He pointed out that the earlier proposal to curb the national highway development from the initial 60 metre to 45 m and now again to 30 m is a glaring example. The proposed width of the State roads was reduced to 45 m from the national standard of 60 m in 2007 based on a representation from the State Government, citing high population density and non-availability of land as the reasons.
However the present decision to reduce it further to 30 m is strange and incomprehensible. This decision will have serious repercussions on the future growth and development of the State, he said.
C.J. George, Chairman, CII-Kerala, said that the decision would send a negative signal to potential investors thereby deteriorating Kerala’s growth prospects. The density of vehicles on Kerala roads have been increasing significantly compared to the growth of transport infrastructure and the decision to reduce the width would result in manifold increase in accidents and lives lost on the road.
Currently, the vehicle-to-population ratio in Kerala is 1:6 whereas the national average is 1:25. It is estimated that the traffic volume will exceed the capacity levels nearly three times in 10 years and about six times in 20 years.
With the proposed reduction in width, George said the transportation time in Kerala will be the highest in the country and this in turn will result in higher freight transportation cost leading to inflation and price rise.
According to Chamber President, national highways are the centre point of trade with approximately 80 per cent of goods for consumption been transported through it. Besides, the three airports and seaports are connected by these national highways.
It is estimated that around 8.5 lakh persons use the highways every day. If the width is reduced to 30 m, it will hamper the daily activities of common people as well as business community, he added.
sajeevkumar.v@thehindu.co.in