Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran at the inauguration of six modernised roads in Kozhikode on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: S_RAMESHKURUP more-in Even as protests continue against the laying of the GAIL pipeline and the national highway expansion projects, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the State government would not be cowed down by the pressure tactics of propagandists spreading rumours against development initiatives. Speaking after inaugurating six important roads in the city, developed under the Kozhikode City Road Improvement Project (KCRIP), Mr. Vijayan said the government was committed to rehabilitating those who would lose land on account of the implementation of such projects. He said the government had planned to take up major projects to ease traffic congestion in all cities and towns in the State. Nearly 8.5 lakh new vehicles had been registered in the State last year, resulting in the chocking of arterial roads. More roads were needed to meet the increase in vehicular population, he added. Rise in accidents Referring to the mounting number of accidents, Mr. Vijayan said 4,287 lives were lost last year and the majority of the victims belonged to 20-25 age group. The government had decided to implement projects worth ?51,000 crore, besides others schemes announced in the State budget. The government had approved development projects worth ?40,000 crore this year, and, of this, ?12,600 crore was set aside for the constructions of roads and bridges. The six major roads inaugurated in the city were constructed by the Vadakara-based Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) at the cost of ?200 crore. The roads are Stadium-Puthiyara; Kovoor to Vellimadakunnu junction; Pushpa Junction to Mankave junction; Gandhi Road to Mini Bypass; Panathuthazham-CWRDM road; and Karaparamba-Kalluthankadavu road In his presidential address, Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran said a stretch of 47 kms would be developed in the second phase of the KCRIP at a cost of ?2,000 crore. A State-level empowered committee had met eight months ago to decide on the fate of second phase of road works under the KCRIP.

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