The forthcoming construction of the Ernakulam bypass road, designed to connect Angamaly with Kundannoor, has stirred a fresh debate regarding its alignment, particularly in the densely populated Maradu municipality area. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is preparing to initiate the project, which aims to alleviate congestion on NH 544 and NH 66 by providing a bypass route.
Recent developments have seen a surge in demands to revise the proposed alignment, especially in the Kundannoor and Thiruvankulam regions. These areas are heavily populated, prompting concerns from local residents and officials about the potential impact of land acquisition. An action council formed in Maradu municipality has voiced strong opposition to the current alignment. The council, comprised of prominent political figures, has vowed to engage with NHAI and local representatives to advocate for a realignment. The council argues that the current alignment will necessitate the acquisition of land in densely populated zones, potentially affecting numerous households. Specifically, the proposed route could impact around 40 homes in the Valanthakadu region alone. The council asserts that utilising vacant land, where available, would be a more viable option and could mitigate the need for extensive displacement.
With revenue authorities poised to commence the land acquisition process under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) 3A notification, the push for a realignment could further delay the long-awaited project. Maradu municipality’s deputy chairperson has endorsed the earlier alignment, highlighting the drawbacks of the new proposal. She believes that community feedback and objections, as allowed under the 3A notification, will prompt NHAI to reconsider the alignment. The controversy underscores the broader challenges of balancing infrastructure development with community impact, as stakeholders continue to debate the optimal route for the bypass.
