NHAI fails to get land for four-laning projects in Kerala

As it could not avail required land for road construction, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in Kerala has abandoned two projects, envisaged to four-lane the 82-km Kannur to Vengalam section of NH 17 at a cost of Rs 1,320 crore and the 88-km Vengalam-Kuttipuram section of NH 17 at a cost of Rs 1,316 crore.

NHAI had planned the two projects under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis under the National Highway Development Project (Phase III). However, even after a lapse of three-and-a-half years, the requisite land/right of way (ROW) could not be made available by NHAI due to several reasons.

For the road project, which extends from 148 km to 230 km of the Kannur-Vengalam section, only 34 per cent of land, that too of the existing ROW, is available.

From 230 km to 318 km, only 62 per cent of land is available, which includes the 45-m width available for the 28-km long Calicut bypass. This has resulted in the non-closure of conditions mandatory for the commencement of execution, including financial closure. It is expected that the land/ROW is not likely to be made available even in the near future.

Therefore, both these projects are being terminated.