Master plan for Mattannur to focus on infrastructure

The Mattannur municipality envisaging hectic development of the town, as an upshot of the Kannur International Airport coming up near the town, has submitted a master plan for developing infrastructure in the municipal area and its outskirts by the time the airport is operational.

The Mattannur town with its narrow roads and poor public amenities has proposed in the master plan various infrastructural projects and plans to equip it to cope with the major developmental initiatives the area may witness once the airport takes off.

As the State government has already announced eight existing roads to Mattannur and to the airport under construction, the municipality’s focus is to develop roads in the town and new bypasses that can handle increased vehicular traffic.

“Infrastructure within the town has to be improved by the time the airport is ready for operational,” said K. Bhaskaran, municipal chairman. The existing narrow roads cannot be adequate when more vehicles start reaching the town, he added.

Two bypasses proposed in the master plan are Nellunni-airport road and Kanalkara-Anjarakkandy road.

These bypasses will connect the airport site with the Thalassery-Valavupara road being developed under the Kerala State Road Transport Project. Two new roads are also proposed. The municipality has also initiated steps to develop an additional bus stand.

“Land acquisition for the new bus stand project being difficult, we are planning to get land for the project through land pooling,” Mr. Bhaskaran said adding that 90 cents of land have already been acquired.

The master plan also proposes markets, parking facilities and parks. Suburbs including Uruvachal, Palotpalli and Kalaroad will also be developed.

Three acres of land has already been acquired for constructing the mini civil station in the town.

The master plan also envisages areas marked for export zones, markets and residential areas, parking areas in the town and outskirts, areas identified as green and cultivated areas.

The master plan also proposes markets, parking facilities and parks. Suburbs including Uruvachal, Palotpalli and Kalaroad will also be developed.