The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), the agency for providing financial assistance to transport facility projects in the State, is gearing up to implement the second phase of the Kozhikode City Road Improvement Project (KCRIP).
At least a dozen roads have been identified for the purpose. The Design, Investigation and Quality Wing of the Public Works Department (PWD) have been tasked with the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR), P. Vineethan, former Superintending Engineer of Roads and Bridges Development Corporation Kerala (RBDCK) and KRFB Kozhikode project manager told The Hindu on Wednesday.
Among the roads identified for improvement are Karikkamkulam-Civil Station-Koottoli, Mini Bypass-Swapna Nagari flyover, Moozhikkal-Kalandithazham, Mananchira-Pavangad, Mankkavu-Pokkunnu, Kothipalam-Chakkumkadavu, Kalluthankadavu-Meenchanda, Krishnan Nair-Thandeerpandal, and Medical College-Mundikkalthazham.
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Mr. Vineethan said plans were afoot for the construction of a flyover across Butt Road. However, RBDCK will be executing the 600-metre flyover project. Similarly, the PWD has to take a decision on widening the busy Karaparamba-Balussery State highway.
He also said that land acquisition was required for all the projects. The preparation of DPR is only the first step towards the materialization of the second phase of KCRIP.
The widening of roads is expected to improve city traffic to a commendable extent. The modernisation of Stadium-Puthiyara, Karaparamba-Kalluthankkadavu, Kovoor-Vellimadukunnu, Gandhi Road-Mini Bypass, Panathuthazham-CWRDM and Pushpa Junction-Mankavu roads two years ago in the first phase has helped in easing congestion and waterlogging in the city. Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society executed the projects.
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On similar lines, KRFB has also envisaged a dozen projects to improve traffic in Kannur as well. One of them is the widening of the road from Valappattanam Junction to New Bypass on National Highway No. 17.
The others are Podikundu-Koottali road, Chaladu-Pallikunnu-Kunhipally road, Thattayad-Mundayad road, and Thekkilapeediya-Thayil road, Mr. Vineethan said.