People’s representatives, led by Hibi Eden, MP, and T.J. Vinod, MLA, during a hunger strike at Cheranalloor on March 8.
| Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

People’s representatives, led by Hibi Eden, MP, T.J. Vinod, MLA, and District Congress Committee president Mohammed Shiyas, observed a hunger strike at Cheranalloor on Saturday (March 8), demanding an adequate number of underpasses on the 22-km-long Edappally-Muthakunnam stretch of National Highway 66 and protesting against the “unscientific construction” of the NH corridor.

Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the State government was turning a blind eye to protests erupting in regions where NH corridors were being built. In its haste to take credit for completing NH works ahead of the impending Assembly polls, the government has chosen to ignore widespread protests against “unscientific” highway construction. “The government must remember that the hassle-free land acquisition process for highway and road development was made possible due to the taking effect of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013, which was passed during the tenure of UPA-II at the Centre,” he added.

The hunger strike saw agitators marching from various parts of the 22-km stretch. Videos highlighting people’s concerns, which had been raised in the Lok Sabha and the Assembly by MPs and MLAs, were also screened. Half a dozen MLAs, socio-political leaders, and representatives of religious organisations and various communities also joined the protest.

NHAI’s claims

Officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), on their part, said that an adequate number of underpasses were being built along the densely populated corridor. “In Kerala, underpasses are being constructed every two to three kilometres on NH 66, compared to the national average of one every four kilometres. This means that people needing to cross the NH 66 stretch in Kerala can do so by traveling a distance of 1 to 1.50 km. More underpasses were sanctioned than originally planned in response to public demand. However, additional requests continue to come in,” they said.