For development of roads in Kerala, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) plans to have a special scheme considering the problem of shortage of land faced by the state, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes said in Thiruvananthapuram on July 15.  The details of the scheme would be announced after clearing certain technical parameters, he said.    

The Minister met the Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after a review meeting of the ongoing national highway projects in the state. Shortage and high cost of land were the main problems being faced by Kerala for road developments, he pointed out.    

There was also need to create an awareness on imposing toll for roads, he said. He stressed on educating people about toll system. The meeting also approved the work of Kollam, Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram bypass roads. Chandy said state would bear 50 per cent cost of Kollam, Kozhikode and Alappuzha bypasses.