Group of Technology Companies (GTECH), a strategic grouping of software companies in Kerala, is of the firm view that reducing the width of the National Highways in Kerala would not be in the long-term interest of the state or its citizens. NHAI has approved the expansion of about 700 kms of highways, at an estimated investment of Rs.10,000 cr, over a 30 months period. However, Kerala politicians cutting across party lines insist that the width of the highway should not exceed 30 meters (as against the NHAI standard of 60 meters), citing the impact of land acquisition on the affected people. This has put the entire project at risk and the state could lose the approved funding and a project vital to its needs.
Currently, the increase in vehicular traffic in Kerala stands at 12% pa and a 30-meter highway will have to operate at several times its capacity on the day it is commissioned!! In other words, the situation after completing a 30-meter highway for which some land acquisition is required will be no different from what it is now. Vehicular accidents will continue to remain high, there will be no let up in traffic congestion, fuel wastage will increase, transportation costs will continue to rise, carbon emission will shoot up and the developmental activities in the state will slow down. Contrary to the general perception, the common man will also be adversely affected by poor and inadequate connectivity.
“Whilst rehabilitation is the most important aspect that the State Government should focus on, there are also a lot of factually incorrect arguments on the impact of the expansions. The total number of people that will be affected by the land acquisition will be less than 50,000, according to the study conducted by NHAI, whereas the figure used by those against the highway expansion is 25 lacs!!! The good thing is that there are plenty of funds already available from Central Government for acquiring land at even 2.5 times the market price. We must realize that the Kerala Government, considering our financial situation and other priorities, cannot afford to acquire expensive land at all, and therefore we should use this Central funding to facilitate total and effective rehabilitation.” says Mr. V K Mathews President, GTECH
Kerala has the highest vehicle density of 1:6 in the country (one vehicle for every 6 people, which is over 4 times the national average) and the highest annual traffic growth. The state has an average of 11 deaths and 120 grievous injuries every day, due to road accidents. Pedestrian accidents account for a majority of this. The number of families, especially those belonging to the weaker sections of the society, devastated by road accidents every year is alarmingly high.
The common man is also adversely affected in several other ways. Traffic bottlenecks increase transportation costs and for a consumer state like Kerala, this will mean higher costs for essential commodities. A smooth flowing traffic is absolutely essential for crisis evacuations in case of natural disasters like tsunami or even in case of terrorist attacks. Besides, emergency transportation of people to hospitals demands decongested roads. The productivity loss and increased fuel costs on the Trivandrum-Kochi stretch of NH-47 itself, due to congestion and lower average speed, is estimated to be about Rs. 2,700 cr p a.
An overwhelming percentage of the youth in Kerala aspires to be engaged or employed in the value adding service sector like Information Technology. For this industry to grow and for new investments to come in, the state needs to have safe and efficient transportation infrastructure, especially roads and highways. It is extremely unfortunate and, in a way, paradoxical that when the whole country is asking for more funds for building more transportation infrastructure, in Kerala, the only topic on which both the Government and Opposition coming united is to block the infrastructure development.
“It is essential that adjacent services, pedestrian roads and medians of adequate dimensions are put in place. All these would require a minimum width of 45 metres. A study revealed that the total number of families affected by road accidents each year in Kerala is three times that of the number of families affected by land acquisition for the current National Highway development project. What is required is a mass awareness programme to bring out the advantages of 45 meter National Highway to the citizenry of the state” sums up Anoop Ambika, secretary GTECH.
Currently, the increase in vehicular traffic in Kerala stands at 12% pa and a 30-meter highway will have to operate at several times its capacity on the day it is commissioned!! In other words, the situation after completing a 30-meter highway for which some land acquisition is required will be no different from what it is now. Vehicular accidents will continue to remain high, there will be no let up in traffic congestion, fuel wastage will increase, transportation costs will continue to rise, carbon emission will shoot up and the developmental activities in the state will slow down. Contrary to the general perception, the common man will also be adversely affected by poor and inadequate connectivity.
“Whilst rehabilitation is the most important aspect that the State Government should focus on, there are also a lot of factually incorrect arguments on the impact of the expansions. The total number of people that will be affected by the land acquisition will be less than 50,000, according to the study conducted by NHAI, whereas the figure used by those against the highway expansion is 25 lacs!!! The good thing is that there are plenty of funds already available from Central Government for acquiring land at even 2.5 times the market price. We must realize that the Kerala Government, considering our financial situation and other priorities, cannot afford to acquire expensive land at all, and therefore we should use this Central funding to facilitate total and effective rehabilitation.” says Mr. V K Mathews President, GTECH
Kerala has the highest vehicle density of 1:6 in the country (one vehicle for every 6 people, which is over 4 times the national average) and the highest annual traffic growth. The state has an average of 11 deaths and 120 grievous injuries every day, due to road accidents. Pedestrian accidents account for a majority of this. The number of families, especially those belonging to the weaker sections of the society, devastated by road accidents every year is alarmingly high.
The common man is also adversely affected in several other ways. Traffic bottlenecks increase transportation costs and for a consumer state like Kerala, this will mean higher costs for essential commodities. A smooth flowing traffic is absolutely essential for crisis evacuations in case of natural disasters like tsunami or even in case of terrorist attacks. Besides, emergency transportation of people to hospitals demands decongested roads. The productivity loss and increased fuel costs on the Trivandrum-Kochi stretch of NH-47 itself, due to congestion and lower average speed, is estimated to be about Rs. 2,700 cr p a.
An overwhelming percentage of the youth in Kerala aspires to be engaged or employed in the value adding service sector like Information Technology. For this industry to grow and for new investments to come in, the state needs to have safe and efficient transportation infrastructure, especially roads and highways. It is extremely unfortunate and, in a way, paradoxical that when the whole country is asking for more funds for building more transportation infrastructure, in Kerala, the only topic on which both the Government and Opposition coming united is to block the infrastructure development.
“It is essential that adjacent services, pedestrian roads and medians of adequate dimensions are put in place. All these would require a minimum width of 45 metres. A study revealed that the total number of families affected by road accidents each year in Kerala is three times that of the number of families affected by land acquisition for the current National Highway development project. What is required is a mass awareness programme to bring out the advantages of 45 meter National Highway to the citizenry of the state” sums up Anoop Ambika, secretary GTECH.
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