The New Indian Express 08.10.2013
where the construction work of the link road has started | Express Photo
The five cents of land which were proving to be a barrier for the
development of the Link Road connecting Jawaharlal Nehru International
Stadium and Thammanam Pulleppady Road was finally handed over to the
Kochi Corporation on Monday.
With this, the authorities will be able to
provide 22 metres to the entire stretch between the Stadium and
Karanakkodam Junction on the Thammanam Pulleppady Road. The Corporation
authorities have been trying to make a deal with the landowner Deenu
Vincent since 2000. After the High Court order that the land should be
acquired only at a premium price, the authorities held several meetings,
following which the landowner had agreed to give the land on a mutual
transfer basis. In return for the five cents of land that they acquired,
the Corporation authorities will give 4.5 cent of land owned by the
civic body at Pipeline Road near Elamkulam.
“With this, another pathway
will be opened, parallel to the Palarivattom-Thammanam stretch and the
Kaloor- Kathrikkadavu Road. When the stadium will host international
games, traffic can be easily diverted through the new road. Though the
remaining portion of the stretch was widened to 22 metres, it did not
give the desired results, owing to the delay in handing over the land,
mayor Tony Chammany said. The land was officially handed over to the
Corporation at a function held near the stadium on Monday. The mayor
received the title deed from the landowner. Deputy Mayor B Bhadra,
standing committee chairpersons T J Vinod, Soumini Jain, Ratnamma Raju,
councillors Gracy Jospeh and Agy Teacher, among others, were also
present at the land hand overing function.