NH 544 Angamaly–Aroor bypass approved, with land acquisition notice expected soon

Congress MP Benny Behanan says the Centre has approved the Angamaly–Aroor bypass project on National Highway 544 in Kerala. He adds that a fresh land acquisition notification is expected soon, following an updated traffic survey. The plan covers about 50 km, with a 70-metre corridor and eight lanes initially, expandable later.

Congress MP Benny Behanan said on Friday that the Centre cleared the Angamaly-Aroor bypass on National Highway 544. Benny Behanan added that a new land acquisition notice would be issued soon. Benny Behanan shared the update in a Facebook post. Benny Behanan described the decision as a key step for the long-pending project.

Benny Behanan said the plan earlier called the Angamaly-Kundannoor bypass now covers Angamaly to Aroor. Benny Behanan said the route would run for about 50 km. Benny Behanan said the road would have a 70-metre width. Benny Behanan added that the first phase would be built as an eight-lane corridor.

Angamaly-Aroor bypass project on National Highway 544: design and expansion

Benny Behanan said the bypass design kept room for future widening to 10 lanes. Benny Behanan said the updated plan followed a new assessment of traffic needs. Benny Behanan stated that the latest survey backed a wider corridor. Benny Behanan said the earlier plan was for a six-lane road.

Benny Behanan said the six-lane proposal relied on a traffic survey done five years ago. Benny Behanan said that assessment was no longer current after delays. Benny Behanan said a fresh traffic survey was completed. Benny Behanan said this work formed part of steps leading to re-notification.

Angamaly-Aroor bypass project on National Highway 544: delays and land acquisition

Benny Behanan alleged the bypass process slowed due to delayed land acquisition. Benny Behanan blamed the delays on the previous LDF governments tenure. Benny Behanan said the hold-up caused the earlier traffic survey to become outdated. Benny Behanan said the Centre has now approved the project, and land acquisition will restart soon.

Angamaly-Aroor bypass project on National Highway 544: traffic congestion and follow-up

Benny Behanan said the bypass was needed to ease heavy traffic congestion in the state. Benny Behanan claimed Benny Behanan repeatedly took the issue to the Union Road Transport Minister. Benny Behanan also referred to talks with senior ministry officials. Benny Behanan linked the approval to sustained follow-up.

"I had consistently urged the Union Transport Minister and the Transport Secretary to grant fresh approval for the project and had also raised the issue several times in Parliament. It is on that basis that the Centres approval has now become a reality, he said.\"

With inputs from PTI