MANGALORE, May 21 (The Hindu): The State Government has informed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) that it wants the width of the Kundapur-Surathkal and Nanthoor-Talapady stretches on NH 17 to be restricted to 60 m in rural area and 45 m in urban areas while making it four-lane.

U.T. Khader, MLA, told presspersons here on Thursday that the Principal Secretary, Department of Public Works, Ports and Inland Water Transport, on May 18 had written to A.K. Mathur, Chief General Manager, NHAI, Bangalore, in this regard and released copies of the letter to the media.

It said “…the Chief Minister has agreed with the point of view put before him… and has decided that the width of the right of way (ROW) (of NH 17) shall be 60 m in rural area and 45 m in urban areas”.

MLA's demand

Mr. Khader said that the Government should have a uniform policy and the width of highways in rural areas should also be restricted to 45 m.

He said that many residents along the stretch between Nanthoor and Talapady had been urging the Government not to acquire land for widening the Kundapur-Talapady four-lane highway to 60 m.

The Chief Minister's decision would help only urban property owners, he said and urged the Chief Minister to ask the NHAI to restrict the width of the highway (NH 17) to 45 m in rural area also.

Mr. Khader said that a committee had been formed to oppose the acquisition of land for widening the highway to 60 m. It would wait for the response of the NHAI to the Government's letter and decide on the future course of action, he said.