The Hindu : Kerala News : NATPAC begins study on alignment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

NATPAC begins study on alignment

By S. Anil Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 30. The National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) has commenced a study for finalising the alignment of the 498-km second stretch of the proposed hill highway extending from Thiruvananthapuram to Palakkad town. The study to evaluate possible alternative routes and identify the feasible alignment for the hill highway corridor on technical, economic, social and environmental considerations is in full swing, the NATPAC Director, T. Elangovan, told The Hindu.

Environmental impact

The existing State highways, major district roads and other road networks would be used to the extent possible and the route having the least environmental impact would be given emphasis while finalising the alignment, he said.

Besides, factors such as the nearness to settlements in the hilly region, connectivity to important market centres, scope for further improvement of the road and socio economic benefits to the people through the proposed highway would be taken into account.

The second phase commencing from Palakkad town and ending in the capital would not touch the coastal district of Alappuzha. As per the tentative route notified by the Government, the highway would commence from Kadukkara in Thiruvananthapuram and pass through Netta, Neyyar Dam, Kallikkad, Nedumangad and Palode.

It would pass through Madathara, Kulathupuzha, Anchal, Punalur and Pathanapuram in Kollam district and Konni, Kumpazha and Ranni in Pathanamthitta district.

In Kottayam district, the highway would pass through Mukkada, Erumeli, Kanjirappally and Mundakkayam. Kuttikkanam, Elappara, Kattapana, Puliyanmala, Nedumkandom, Udumpanchola, Santhanpara, Pooppara, Rajakumari, Rajakkad, Ponmudi, Vellathooval, Anachal, Erattakkulam, Virippara, Mankulam, Perumbankuthu, Kuttampuzha and Vadattupara are the places where the highway would touch in Idukki district.

Thundam, Perumthodu, Ilithodu, Kadappara, Kannimangalam Check Post and Kallala Estate P.O. Junction are the places where the highway would touch in Ernakulam. It would pass through Vazhachal, Vettilappara, Vettilappara Ferry in Thrissur and Puthunagaram, Kollencode, Nenmara, Pothundi, Padagiri, Kuriakutty and Orukombankutty in Palakkad.

Alternative routes

The alternative routes suggested for the second phase included Amboori, Neyyar Dam, Vithura and Palode in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kanjirappally, Erattupetta and Melukavu in Kottayam, Muttom, Thodupuzha, Paingottur, Bhoothathankettu and Thundam in Idukki and Nenmara, Koduvayur and Pallavoor in Palakkad.

Feasibility study

Mr. Elangovan said that connections for missing links and deviations for circuitous routes to minimise cost of construction and travel time, preparation of an alignment map and an economic analysis to ascertain the feasibility of the stretch would be taken up.

Inter-disciplinary team

An inter-disciplinary team consisting of transportation planners, highway engineers, survey engineers, economist, sociologist, environmental expert and technical staff is carrying out the study in close liaison with the Public Works Department (PWD) engineers, local bodies and other relevant agencies. The Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, had kicked off the work on the first phase extending from Kasaragod to Palakkad on January 14.

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