CM launches work on final phase of bypass

Five-km Vengalam-Pooladikkunnu stretch to be completed at Rs.80 crore

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy being received atVengalam as he arrives for inaugurating the workon the final phase of the Kozhikode bypass onMonday. — PHOTO: K. RAGESH

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the construction work on the final stretch of the Kozhikode Bypass road at Vengalam on Monday.

With the completion of the 5-km Vengalam-Pooladikkunnu stretch, work on the 28.12-km Kozhikode bypass road will come to a close.

The State government is funding the Rs.153-crore project under its Speed Kerala project.

Two-lane road

Though there were plans to develop it as a four-lane road, the delay in acquiring land came as a hurdle and later the government decided to complete the work using its own fund and limiting it to two lanes. The project was formally launched in May, 2009, though the groundwork had been cleared by the then government in 2008. On completion, the new road will help alleviate the traffic congestions on the State and National Highways passing through the city.

Renovation of bridges

The government will spend Rs.80 crore for the completion of the remaining stretch, which will include renovation of two bridges. Officials said that the optimum use of the new bypass would be possible with the realisation of the final stretch.

The Uralungal Labour Contract Society is executing the work on the bypass.

Though the formal inauguration of the work was held on Monday, the work had begun at the site last month.