Differing views on development in Kozhikode

The LDF legislators have charged the government with apathy over the tendering of the six road projects conceived for solving the traffic congestions in Kozhikode three years ago.

CPI(M) MLAs allege that the construction of a five-storeyed Bicentenary Memorial Court Complex in Kozhikode which began in February 2011 has now come to standstill. Photo: K. Ragesh

The CPI(M) -led LDF and the UDF appear to be on a collision course over the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the State government in implementing development projects in the city.

The opposition MLAs, A. Pradeepkumar representing Kozhikode- North, Elamaram Karim (Beypore) and A.K. Saseendran (Elathur) have accused the government of trying to scuttle several projects envisaged under the previous LDF government. On the other hand, Minister for Social Justice and Panchayats M.K. Muneer, representing Kozhikode -South Assembly constituency says that several projects have been completed in a time-bound manner in the last three years.

Road projects

The LDF legislators have charged the government with apathy over the tendering of the six road projects conceived for solving the traffic congestions in the city three years ago. The four-lane coastal highway project from Ponnani in Malappuram district to Vengalam in Kozhikode district which had been envisaged under the LDF government has now turned into a pie in the sky.

Mr. Pradeepkumar says that the government Cyber Park is in limbo without any development activities.

Approvals already given by the LDF government for projects such as a flyover at Thondayad on the Kozhikode Bypass, expansion of the Sarovaram Bio-Park and schemes for the Institute for Mental Health and Neuro Sciences are still on paper. The construction of the court complex has also virtually come to a standstill, he adds.

Countering the arguments of the Left legislators, Dr. Muneer spells out a plethora of activities taking place in the city. A sum of Rs.16 crore has been set aside for the Kothi bridge and the work would be completed by May 2015. The construction of the approach road for the Panniyanakara rail overbridge, at a cost of Rs.3.5 crore, is in the final phase.

Going on

The construction activities on the Nadukandi Mohammed Koya Road (from Idiyangara to Halwa Bazaar) are going on. Similarly the renovation of the Kannancherry-Mini Bypass road — at a cost of Rs.2 crore — was progressing apace. Administrative sanction of Rs.1.15 crore had been obtained for renovating the Panniyankara-Thiruvannur road. A sum of Rs.1 crore had been allocated for renovating Pavamani Road, Dr. Muneer says.