Express highway project not abandoned:Muneer

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has not abandoned the proposed Express-Highway project from Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram, State PWD Minister M.K. Muneer said.

Addressing a press meet here, Muneer said the project's feasibility study had been completed and an environment impact study based on this would be carried out soon. The Government would hold talks with Opposition party leaders on the project during the coming Assembly session. The Government does not have any intention to implement the project against the people's will, he said.

The state's people would be taken into confidence before implementing the project, he added. Referring to a recent cabinet decision to constitute Road Safety Authority, he said increasing incidents of road accidents in the state was a cause for concern. Nearly 3000 people per day die in road accidents in the state, he said adding it was a very serious matter.

The Authority would implement projects to reduce road accidents and take steps to provide relief to accident victims, he said.