Thiruvananthapuram, August 20: Kerala’s Public Works Minister, P.K. Bashir, announced on Thursday that the state will appeal to the Supreme Court against its recent order banning construction along national highways. He argued that this directive is impractical for the densely populated state, where land is scarce, and could adversely affect thousands of homes and businesses.
The Supreme Court has mandated that no residential buildings can be constructed within 40 meters on either side of the centerline of national highways, and commercial establishments are prohibited within 75 meters. The order also requires additional land to be kept clear for service roads and surrounding areas.
Bashir stated, “Given Kerala’s unique circumstances, it is not feasible to leave such large tracts of land vacant for construction. This is not practical. Kerala will present its concerns directly to the Supreme Court. The state government will adopt a clear and firm stance on this matter.”
The Supreme Court issued this directive following a road accident in North India that resulted in multiple fatalities. The court’s intention was to regulate access to national highways and improve road safety.
Bashir emphasized that the conditions in Kerala differ significantly from those that prompted the court’s intervention. The case that led to the proceedings indicated that vehicles could enter the national highway from various points on the service road.
Subsequently, the entry system was revised, including Kerala, where access to the highway is now limited to designated points. Under the current arrangement, vehicles cannot freely enter the national highway from every point on the service road; access is controlled through specified entry and exit locations.
The minister argued that the risks associated with the accident cited in the Supreme Court case do not arise in the same manner in Kerala. The government aims to highlight Kerala’s unusually high population density and limited land availability compared to other states.
Bashir warned that implementing broad restrictions as per the court’s order could have severe repercussions for property owners across the state. He noted that if there are no changes to the directive, hundreds of acres of private land and thousands of homes and businesses from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram could be affected.
The ongoing construction to widen National Highway 66 to six lanes further complicates this issue. The minister also cautioned that many new projects recommended by the National Highways Authority of India could be impacted by this order. Therefore, Kerala will seek appropriate relief from the Supreme Court, arguing that highway safety can be ensured without imposing uniform restrictions that fail to consider the state’s unique geographical and demographic conditions.
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