Chamber opposes State stand on NHs

KOCHI: The Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said the right of way for the proposed development of four-lane national highway should not be less than 45 metres considering the rapidly growing traffic population and deaths in road accidents in the State.

Kerala, with its one vehicle per person ratio, daily witnesses 11 deaths in road accidents and 120 grievous injuries on an average. This was argument enough for having wider and better roads, said Anand Menon, president of the chamber in a press statement here on Saturday.

The statement said the chamber was appalled at an all-party decision recently to demand restriction of National Highway development in the State to 30 metres from the previous 45 metres against the national standard of 60 metres.