The State government has entrusted the Harbour Engineering Department with the upgrade of seven arterial roads along the district’s coastline at a cost of Rs.2.16 crore. The works on the roads will be done this financial year. The roads are in the fishing hubs of Moodadi and Chengottukavu in Panthalayani block panchayat; Payyoli in Melady block panchayat; and Koyilandy municipality.
As per the order issued on May 16, 2013, by the Fisheries and Ports Department, Rs.60.60 lakh has been allotted for improvements to Gurukulam Beach Road connecting Valiyathodu and Cheriyathodu at Koyilandy municipality.
Moodadi will see improvements on Muthayam Beach Road for Rs.12.52 lakh and the stretch from N.K. Ibrahim Peedika to Thrimukku Road has been allotted Rs.22.77 lakh.
To upgrade Kolavipalam Fisheries Road, an ecologically fragile fishing area, Rs.41.52 lakh has been set aside. The Kolavipalam fishing village is a strip of land between the sea on the west and the Kottappuzha river on the east. The village is facing large-scale sand-mining, especially on the Kolavipalam beach.
In Chengottukavu grama panchayat, three coastal stretches will be improved – Thuvayil Poyilkavu Beach Road; Poyilkavu-Madakkara Beach Road; and Arangadath-Ezhukudikkal Beach Road. The amounts allocated are Rs.26.36 lakh, Rs.7.85 lakh, and Rs.30 lakh respectively.
Meanwhile, another government order passed on May 17 has sanctioned improvement works on the coastal road linking Beypore fishing harbour and the main thoroughfare to Kozhikode city. For this work, Rs.29 lakh has been allotted to the Harbour Engineering Department.
The road improvement work comes in the backdrop of an extensive project to renovate Beypore harbour for Rs.2.99 crore.
This project includes a new parking area near the wharf and a separate covered loading area.
According to officers of the department, the works are expected to be completed in two years, after which there would be better facilities for the fishermen in the auction hall. The number of drainages would be increased and new wells would be constructed, and pending electrical works cleared.
