TIRUVANANTHAPURAM : As the city zooms ahead on a fast track towards development, one road is still stuck in a time warp. The busy stretch of Vazhuthcaud-Thycaud may not see a facelift anytime soon due to hurdles in land acquisition proceedings. To resolve the issue, Trivandrum Development Authority (TRIDA), the agency for implementing the project, has decided to convene a meeting on July 11 with the traders and landowners. The meeting was called by Public Works Department Minister G Sudhakaran.
Ironically, the land acquisition was kickstarted in 2012. Though the traders along the road were compensated for the land acquired, TRIDA failed to rehabilitate some of them as it couldn’t find an alternative place. According to C Jayan Babu, chairman, TRIDA, acquiring 10 shops near Thycuad Guest House and Mettukada Junction posed a major hurdle.
“Except for that stretch, we had almost completed the land acquisition works. The land at Vazhuthacaud and the area extending to Thycaud Hospital near Thampanoor were also acquired. But, the High Court verdict which said the rehabilitation of traders should be at a place of their choice is turning an obstacle. Identifying a suitable land for them is a herculean task. However, talks are on and we hope to sort things out at the meet to be held on July 11,” Jayan Babu added. The PWD project to connect the missing links on the Vazhuthacaud -Thycaud road too is stuck due to delay in land acquisition.
The plan was to widen Sri Moolam Club- Xanadu Junction and Amman Kovil Junction-Thycaud Hospital stretch. Suresh Kumar, executive engineer, PWD said the project was a long-standing one and efforts are on to resume the acquisition proceedings. The road will be constructed as per the norms of Indian Roads Congress.
However, the shop owners at Mettukada have a different story to tell. “When they planned to widen the road at Attakulangara, traders had to bear the brunt. Several shopkeepers lost their shops for the flyover after Attakkulangara project hit a roadblock. TRIDA was also unable to hand over land for widening of a stretch from Overbridge to Attakkulangara to Kerala Road Fund Board. So, we can’t afford the same fate and let authorities identify a suitable place. We will relocate,” said a trader at Mettukada.