NH bypass heading for a dead-end

KOZHIKODE: The NH-17 bypass in Kozhikode will reach a dead-end with
the completion of Thondayadu-Malaparamba stretch, scheduled to be
opened for traffic next February.

Delay in constructing the Malaparamba-Pooladikunnu road, the next
phase of the corridor which will take the bypass to the NH-17, will
see fresh traffic woes brimming on city roads. A Rs 25-crore proposal
for the 6.5-km road has been awaiting Centre's sanction. If the Centre
gives the nod for the work in early next fiscal, it will take four
months to complete the tender process.

''Construction of this stretch will consume two years, even if
everything moves as per the schedule,'' says assistant executive
engineer P Somasundaran.

That means a smooth vehicular passage from the Malaparamba end of the
bypass to NH-17 will be impossible for a couple of years and city can
brace up for fresh traffic snarls. The narrow
Malaparamba-Karikkamkulam road is little suitable for carrying the
bypass-driven traffic, including the flow of multi-axle trucks.
Two-lane traffic is impossible at several areas along the road, which
will link new bypass to Karaparamba-West Hill.

The deadlock at Malaparamba will prompt vehicles to advance towards
Eranhipalam, to enter NH-17 through mini-bypass. This would bring
chaos back at Eranhipalam junction, where traffic has been eased after
the widening. When right turn of vehicles from the Wayanad road, which
is banned now, becomes indispensable, traffic management at
Eranhipalam will break down. Clearing vehicles at the busy junction
will become more time-consuming.

Though widening of Malaparamba-Karikkamkulam-Karaparamba road,
included in the third phase of the city improvement scheme, will avert
an impending crisis, PWD has no immediate plans to do so.

Unfortunately, people's representatives too have not waken up to bring
the issue to government notice to minimise the traffic travails.

''We have no solution to offer. If the Central Government sanctions
the work, we will be able to commence the work at the earliest. With
the proposed road, the NH bypass can almost serve its purpose,'' said
Somasundaran.

However, as the next phase of the byp-ass will be years away, the
immediate agenda should be to clear bottlenecks along the
Karikkamkulam-Malaparamba road.