PRIYARENJINI S Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner, a resident of Kochi, has filed this writ petition seeking direction to the respondents i.e., the State of Kerala, the District Collector, Ernakulam, Corporation of Kochi, the Greater Cochin Development Authority and the Kerala Road Fund Board, to complete the widening of Thammanam-Pulleppady road as per the stipulations contained under Ext.P6 order of the State Government dated 10.06.2015 brought out for the implementation of District Flagship Infrastructure Projects (DFIP) to accelerate Infrastructure Development in the State of Kerala and according sanction thereto, and for other related reliefs. Brief material facts for the disposal of the writ petition are as follows:

(2.) Kochi city is one of the most congested cities within the State which requires proper and sufficient attention from the public authorities for the improvement and development of its infrastructures. Under the 2009 Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) Scheme, the Central Urban Development Ministry identified Kochi as one of the "One Million Populated Cities" in the country, which requires special attention for infrastructure development. Kochi is also selected as one among the 100 Indian cities for the "Smart City Mission Project" piloted by the Central Government, during the year 2015.

(3.) Years back, the local body viz., the Cochin Corporation as well as the State Government have identified a project for widening of Thammanam- Pulleppady road into four lane traffic to augment east- west connectivity in the Kochi city, which is one among the key solutions for de-congesting the existing Sahodaran Ayyappan Road, i.e., the road leading from the South Junction to the Vyttila and Banerji road, i.e., Ernakulam North to Edappally. As per the Scheme formulated by the State Government, the project requires a total cost of Rs.263 Crores for widening about 3.5 Kilometres of road with 22 metres of wide stretch and requires acquisition of land having an extent of 4.0163 Hectares.