Development of roads linking ports figures in talks

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that he did not wish to make any further comment on the dispute over construction of a national highway bypass at Keezhattur. Mr. Vijayan, who was speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday, pointed out that he had expressed his views on the subject several times over.

The Chief Minister also made it clear that he had not discussed the subject with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

His talks with the Union Minister, the Chief Minister said, was about the dispute between the State government and the Centre on compensation proposed by the State for the land sought to be acquired for developing the National Highway from Thalappady to Neeleswaram in Kasaragod.

Centre feels compensation higher

The Central government was of the view that the compensation proposed by Kerala was on the higher side.

The discussions were meant to thrash out the differences, he added.

Mr. Vijayan said development of roads linking ports, development of the national waterways and renovation of the canals in Kochi had also figured in his discussions with the Union Minister.