Dispute erupts over Kollam-Theni NH widening plan

Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian has demanded an urgent review of the proposed alignment for the widening of the Kollam-Theni National Highway (NH) 183.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, Mr. Cherian said that it would have been possible to prepare an effective plan without causing the loss of around 3,000 houses, shops, places of worship, and other structures along both sides of the 16-kilometre stretch from Kollakadavu to Aanjilichuvadu, and further up to Pravinkoodu on MC Road.

He said the new highway was planned to be 24 metres wide, twice the width of the existing road. “The new alignment should be designed in a way that does not cause inconvenience to the public,” the Minister said. A detailed complaint had already been submitted to the National Highways Authority of India, he added.

Meanwhile, Kodikkunnil Suresh, MP, has criticised Mr. Cherian’s stance against the “widening of the Kollam-Theni National Highway 183 into a four-lane road.” In a statement issued on Friday, Mr. Suresh said that it was due to his intervention that a decision was made to widen the existing road, which requires minimal land acquisition. “This decision has the full support of both the Central and State governments. The statements made by Minister Saji Cherian are intended solely to create confusion among the public,” Mr. Suresh said.

The Mavelikara MP said the decision to widen the road was taken after conducting various studies. “Widening the road is the most suitable option for the national highway development. Accordingly, the alignment was approved, the 3A Gazette Notification for land acquisition was published, and the project cost is currently under consideration by the Finance Committee,” he said.

Mr. Suresh said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the State government held a favourable stance on the Kollam-Theni National Highway development. Mr. Cherian has taken a different position, possibly due to vested interests, he alleged.