Kerala coastal highway sparks protests over displacement

As the ambitious Rs'65 billion coastal highway project moves forward, fears and protests are brewing among fishermen who fear displacement and loss of livelihood. The 623km project runs from Pozhiyoor in Thiruvananthapuram to Thalapady in Kasaragod, passing through nine coastal districts. The placing of pink stones to define the boundaries has sparked outrage across the state. Opposition to the project, which is intended to boost tourism significantly, has been widespread. Many surveying and border marking projects have been halted. Many coastal residents in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Thrissur, Kollam, and Kozhikode have spoken out against the project, which includes 12 hubs, the state's longest cycling track, restaurants, EV charging stations, bus bays, and other amenities. The highway will run through 20 coastal grama panchayats, 11 municipalities, and four corporations, according to Magline Peter, chairperson of the Theera Bhu Samrakshana Vedhi. “We are highly apprehensive about the project and coastal communities are totally in the dark. Authorities have been laying boundary stones without publishing a detailed project report (DPR) or holding discussions with affected parties. Revenue officials, accompanied by police, have been putting up stones in densely populated areas using coercion. Even MLAs of coastal constituencies are unaware of developments,” she said. Secretariat protest soon Representatives from coastal villages have written to the chief minister and various ministers requesting that the project not be implemented without proper surveys. Fishermen intend to hold a demonstration in front of the Secretariat during the next assembly session. “The government has failed to adequately rehabilitate coastal communities who have been facing displacement for years. Now they are planning mega infrastructure projects along the same coast and refusing fisherfolk the right to construct homes,” she added. Ajayakumar P, from Madappally, a fishing village in Kozhikode, is afraid of being evicted because his house is on the project's route. “My house is just 15 metres from the sea and we have no clue about the project. This project will be at the cost of our livelihoods. Where will we go once we get displaced? Many people who moved out as part of the Punargeham scheme are coming back. We depend on the sea for survival. NH 66 is just 500 metres away from here and we don’t understand why we need a coastal highway,” the 56-year-old said. The state administration has established a special package for displaced households as a result of the project. According to government officials, land acquisition is underway in 44 reaches totaling 468 kilometers as part of the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) project. The official said the DPR is yet to be finalised. “Stone laying for 280km, with 25 reaches, has been finalised. Sea erosion is an issue and KIIFB, the funding agency for the project, is implementing coastal protection projects as well. The DPR will also have solutions to address sea erosion,” the official added. As part of the project, the Kerala State Coastal Development Corporation has been charged with rehabilitation. Land purchase procedures, according to officials, will be completed within a year. The state administration hopes to finish the project by 2026. Coast to coast 623km Total distance of the coastal highway 14m Proposed width of the highway Highway passes through nine districts - Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur 1993 | Project is first proposed based on a study by National Transportation Planning and Research Centre 2017 | Government approves alignment proposed by Natpac See also: Change in pillar design to cause delay in Mumbai Coastal Road Project Locals in Chinchinim, Goa oppose purchasing further land to widen NH66