With the work on the final stretch from Pooladikunnu to Vengalam of the Kozhikode Bypass progressing fast, the multi-crore road project, expected to bring about a major transformation to the city’s transportation infrastructure, is sure to be completed well ahead of time.
The 28.12-km Kozhikode Bypass, forming part of the National Highway No.17, stretches from Idimuzhikkal to Vengalam. The project, with a total cost of Rs.153 crore, is being carried out in five phases of varying distances. All the four phases have already been completed and the work for the final stretch is progressing steadily. August 7, 2016 is the scheduled time for the total project to be completed. However, the entire project will be completed by the end of this year, E.K. Hydru, PWD executive engineer, told The Hindu.
All the bridges, culverts and retaining walls needed to be built in the final stretch had been completed.
“What is going on now is the pavement work before the tarring is done,” said Mr. Hydru.
The work could have been expedited further had the soil for filling the low-lying stretches was available freely. “There is a difficulty in getting enough quantity of soil for the foundation work,” he said.
The 5.1-km final stretch comprises two bridges including one of the longest in north Kerala (490 m) across the Korappuzha and several culverts and retaining walls. The work has not been seriously affected in spite of the non-availability of sand and other raw materials on various occasions.
The bypass passes through the eastern part of Kozhikode city via Chemmancherry, Thalakulathoor, Pooladikunnu, Vengeri, Nellikkode, Koottuli, Olavanna, Pantheerankavu, and Vazhayoor to reach Ramanattukara grama panchayat.
Once completed, vehicles from the Vadakara side could reach destinations including the Calicut Airport and vice versa without entering the city. At present, these are diverted at Pooladikunnu to reach the National Highway No.17.
“We are doing everything possible to hand over the project to the government without any delay,” said T. Velayudhan of the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, which had been entrusted with the work.
The work, scheduled to be completed on August 7, 2016, will be over by the year end.
