NH Widening Issue in Kerala – A Study Report
Summary of the NH widening issue
This is with regard to the request of an All-Party delegation from Kerala to reduce the width of National Highways in Kerala from the stipulated 45 metre to 30 metre. We feel that this decision, taken at an All-Party Meet on 20 th April, 2010, is disappointing and lacks farsightedness.
The width was reduced to 45 metre from the National Standard of 60 metre in 2007, based on a representation from the State Government, citing high population density and non-availability of land as the reasons.
Present 45/30 meter NH roads are already bursting at their seams and traffic blocks have become an everyday feature. With a high vehicle-to-population ratio in Kerala (1: 6 as compared to the national average of 1:25) the present National Highway road network is already experiencing traffic levels higher than the road capacity. Also the vehicle density of Kerala is 170/ Sq km as compared to the national average of 30/Sq km. Research shows that traffic volume, particularly on National Highways 17 and 47, is likely to exceed road capacity levels by nearly three times in a 10-year period and about six times in another 20 years (10-12% traffic growth rate).
The National Highways connect main cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode to each other and to other towns and villages. It is also the centre point of trade, with approximately 80% of goods for consumption been transported through it. Kerala’s three airports as well as Cochin Port and other ports are connected by these National Highways. It is estimated that around 8.5 lakh persons use the highways every day. If the width is reduced to 30 metre, it will cause chaos and hamper the daily activities of countless common people and business community at large. An estimated Rs. 2700 crore per annum can be saved by way of savings in man hours, fuel, maintenance and wear and tear of vehicles by a well maintained highway system.
The number of accidents and fatalities is high, with an average 100 accidental deaths or grievous injuries happening everyday on Kerala roads. A study report shows that most of the people affected by accidents are the bread winners of families of lower income group. Total number of people affected by road accidents each year is about three times that of number of people affected by land acquisition in the present proposed NH improvement.
It may kindly be noted that in the case of collected BOT model only users pay. Otherwise, when the Govt. charges no user fee, more tax has to be from the general public to build the roads and thus people who are not using this facility also have to pay for it. This may please be compared with the model of electricity and water supply where Govt. collects the charges only from the users.
Finally, disaster management and national security concerns are better addressed by a proper highway system connecting coastal villages. Good connectivity and access will help the State respond faster in emergency situations. Evacuation and transportation of the masses will be possible only when there is proper connectivity between the district headquarters and villages to other parts of the State.
The allegation that land acquisition will affect 24 lakh persons is exaggerated and unfounded. Study reports show that only about 50000 people is actually affected. If the concerns of the people affected by land acquisition are resolved properly people will be ready to give their land for the proposed widening, which will be in the larger interest of the entire state.
This issue is indeed, one that needs immediate intervention of the Hon. Chief Minister and the Hon. Minister for Public Works.
Good article! This is the most relevant topic in India.
This article do not reflect the true facts on the highway criteria.
The writer should realize that a 30 m ROW can incorporate 4 or 6 lanes easily and cater the same traffic as a 60 or 45 m corridor.
The facts stated in this article do not reflect the real facts with respect to the highway criteria.
It is to be understood that a 30m corridor can cater a 4 lane or 6 lane carriageway as a 45 or 60m corridor does. The traffic volume mentioned is not related to a highway design.
This article is good in one way only.I studied some of the facts abouts this issue.We knows kerala brains are the best in the world.NH 47 road contract has given @17.80 cr to 21 cr/km only to expand widening.Presently in NH47 have more than 31 mtrs. and this land was available from the last 36 yrs or many parties have ruled here no one didn’t expended this road.Now the new alignment of the road becomes more curve b’cause of lot of corruptions & many tv medias have released news like all bars are protected in this.Only the affected parties knows this issues more.
I travelled 6 countries world wide, every where 3.5 mtrs is the standard width internationall.We have Indian Road Congress, a general body at Delhi.they said with in 30 mtr can built 6 line way.This is available in singapore, malay,britain,Japan,HongKong,Delhi,calcutta,Madras, Mumbai ets.
Last Sept.2010 in Madras inagurated 4 line road above the electric line with all facilities like pedistrian cross, power line,drainage etc. @ 5crs/km.WOW a big budget difference like U.S.A & India.why it is?how come?who sanction this budget?
5 Oct 2010 Haryana High court declared to stop 273 unauthorised (all) entry points to the Express highways.b’cause the money has granted from world bank and follow there conditions.
Toll rate in Ahamadabad for a car rs.72.How many persons can afford this rate.A truck driver said a trip from Delhi to Cochi he paid rs.4000 for a trip.then how will be the cost of commodities.
2 year before a kg of rise @12.50, now @24.
Last time petrol price has increade by 4%, then commodities price has increased by12%, vegetable price hiked 15-18%, milk increased by 12%?who is responsible in this.
Vallarpadam terminal road developed now.many are washed from there land.Govt. has declared good package, but till today they didn’t received any money& they sleep in plastic shelters now.5 yrs before Palghat NH lroad build,govt.declared good package, but till today no money from our govt.What these people do?They are like us.All Indians are same.
Demolishing all building near to present NH road will cost more than 50,000 cr & thier rehabilitation cost another….,loss of business, loss of Jobs…. who will take care of this subject?
Our 840km NH road works costs appox. 4000 cr.we get grand from central govt. more than this.then why we are going behind B.O.T ?.
Now we have good budget 18-21 cr/km, with the help of this we do a fly over from N.Kerala to Trivandrum.No body harms this project, God’s own Country, all are happy.
sudha & Joyce studied about this actual fact, but wel require 4-6 road track,see our country is poor we have to build everything with in our limit.specially our Keralites are brilliant to earn money with out doing any thing.I visited Tamilnadu recently & studied about the construction cost just 3 months before, a new B.O.T road, they done in a surface level 4 track road @ 1 crs/km, at the same time in Kerala govt. given the contract 18-22 crs/km.wow a big difference, is there is any comparison in between this? so where is our fault.Listen per capita debt has raise rs.32,000/ head in keral,National debt is more than this.I worked in 4 countries, travelled other countries also.one track road is 3.5 mtre in all world(in express highway also), in kerala 30 mtre area is available, National Road Congress says(part of Indian Govt.) 28 mtr is enough to build a 6 way track with all facilities.every lit. petrol/diesel we pay rs.2/- for national highway development, 18 months fuel cess collection is enough to build 840 km kerala highway, so we don’t pay toll.But our politicians required to take fund from World bank to keep in there pocket, required a super project, am I right? where all these peoples gone last 36 yrs(NH road land acquied 36 years before still is there?
where was this article authour?baba pls open your eyes & find a suitable solution,we can start to build a good road on tomorrow itself.Please don’t delay.
If some one intrested in pls condact me for many details.
last year supreme court has ordered to block all panchayath roads in haryana near to NH, then what villagers do? last year in pune express toll has raised 40 %,now in tamilnadu bus operators paying more amount toll than tax,in 2010 jly mixed vegetables cost rs.20, now it is(2011 jly) rs 50/- 120 % increase in price?common man don’t have black money.
Article author had done many mistakes in this topic.kerala nh road project actual breadth is 60 mtre shows in chathurvedhi report( they plann to build in 3 phases, 1 phase 45 mtr,2 phase 60 mtre,3 phase express highway, by the time require more security, then they do a helipad in every 100 km,I read in national news paper.More people oppose dthe project, do you think they are fools?
“Study reports show that only about 50000 people is actually affected” says author pls read Wilbersmiths papers approved by govt, you may shock to see all truth.
This time I like to show a hidden truth also, I started to study about petrole fact,shows underground crude oil price is $ 5/- barrel after reaching to ground level additional cost $3/ barrel & refining cost .18-.22/barrel, after all commission Indian govt. can sell fuel @ rs30/ litre.
Giri prasad, pls publish my e mail ID
giri30us2002@yahoo. com
It is obvious that Sudha and Joyce do not know the facts regarding NH . They have picked up something from the media published in the initial period of NH agitation. Have you seen the alignment to talk about saving bars. Those were stories planted by people with vested interest to save their bars. Channel that published it later corrected that.
All these works were awarded after open international tender. Had it been such a profitable rate all the contractors in the world would have participated.
There is no doubt that people loosing land should be compensated. But your stories about people evicted for container terminal not being compensated is not correct. They were given a real good compensation package albeit with little bit delay.
Their perception that average width of present NH is 31 mtr is wrong. In that case only additional 14 mtr is required. And you say that Rs 50000 cr is the damage due to demolition of buildings on the road side. How do you correlate these two figures. Or is it that all our road side buildings are made of gold.
You can have any number of lanes in a 30 mtr road. Only that width of the lanes will be proportionate to the number of lanes.
My suggestion is that when people talk about any issue do a little bit study and not cut and paste some hearsays.
Hi
The main difference here, as stated in the article, is the difference between Kerala and other states. Here, the NH is just another road, and people have been staying near it, around it throughout the length of kerala for a long time. and traffic studies prove that majority of the trips in kerala are of short length, even on national highways. now, considering that toll plazas (as seen on NHs similarly developed in other states) occur only once every 50-60 km, should I pay toll amount for 60 km if i’ve to travel for 15 km only? and the BOT rules are heavily skewed towards the contractors and MNCs. they are given a tax holiday for 10 yrs (Source: NHAI guidelines for PPP) but the compensation given to people who lose land is taxable at source! where is the nation heading to!
I used to stay on the NH in trivandrum and used to cross NH twice every day on an average on an automobile. now i’ll ve to travel 4-5 km to enter the road frm side road, a further 3-4 km to find a u-turn n come back all the distance. n pay the toll too. gr8 for development. bt question is, whose.
the bot system is skewed…but dont worry no road will come nor anyone will invest in kerala…y should some one when they will have litigation all through their life….!!.so b happy that no toll would be paid…asno raod will come
if people dont want road what can be done…its typical keralalites issue……the discussion will go on for years till 8lanes become standard in other states…!!. some one commented 30m road can accomodate 60 m traffic…i wonder if double decker roads exists…!!!
in kerala only 1.5% of total NH
kerala need more NH in length,not wydening
ie
1)HILL highway,
2)coastal high way,and
3)NORTH South corridator/