High-speed corridor to arrive soon in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The National Highway Authority's high-speed road corridor stretching from Thiruvananthapuram to Angamaly will soon become a reality. Earlier proposed by the central government, this project will be included in Vision 2047 of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which was put forward instead of the Bharatmala project. 
 
The National Highway Authorities have completed the initial steps and have submitted them to the Ministry of Roads. Under this plan, India aims to construct 50,000 kilometres of controlled-access highways by 2047, with Kerala securing a spot among them. These highways will have fewer exit points, allowing travellers to pay tolls only for the distance they travel. A GPS-centred toll system will be implemented to facilitate this process.
 
The Kozhikode-Palakkad National Highway will be the first road in Kerala to operate under this controlled-access system. Roads will be constructed through public-private partnerships. 
 
It is learned that minor changes will be made to the Thiruvananthapuram-Angamaly corridor, including a four-line lane. A total of 950 hectares of land will have to be acquired for the purpose of creating a 205-kilometre road, stretching from Thiruvananthapuram Ring Road to the Angamaly Bypass.
 
The land will be acquired from Nedumangad, Kottarakkara, Punalur, Pathanapuram, Konni, Ranni, Kanjirappally, Meenachil, Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, Kunnathunadu and Aluva taluks. Authorities have also hinted that the new alignment will avoid inhabited areas as much as possible.