Alternate road to Wayanad, a pipedream

KOZHIKODE: With the monsoon rains gathering strength, traffic blocks due to minor land-slips has become a regular affair on the Thamarassery ghat road connecting Wayanad with Kozhikode and the southern part of the state. Despite a lot of hue and cry raised from various quarters for the last many decades for an alternate road for the district connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode, nothing has materialised so far. Recently, a meeting of major stakeholders in tourism industry expressed concern over the uncertainty faced by tourists who recently travelled through the ghat section which witnessed regular road blocks to earth-slips.

Wayanad Tourism Organisation spokesperson Pranavam Raveendran told this newspaper that though the organisation has been raising the issue time and again, they all ended as a cry in the wilderness. “There are many options left, but there should be a will for those at helm to choose and execute,” he added. For the last many weeks, tourists are losing much time on the ghat road. “Earth-slip has become routine and a minor incident will result in long traffic snarl lasting for hours,” he added. People’s representatives point out that there were many projects discussed and almost finalised.

The Poozhithode-Chippilithode road connecting Puthuppadi in Kozhikode district with Padinjarethara in Wayanad was one which was discussed much. The tunnel road linking Ana-kkampoyil in Kozhikode with Meppadi in Way-anad, was another project on which discussion is still on. Once completed the 5.5 kilometre tunnel road would link Swargamkunnu near Anakkampoyil and  Kalladi near Meppadi, Wayanad. All other roads suggested were abandoned due to environmental reasons. Sulthan Bathery MLA I.C. Balakrishnan said that the Poozhithode-Chippilithode road was almost on the verge of clearance. “The project will be materialised if the Chief Minister evinces interest,” he said. This government did not call even a single meeting on the issue till date, he added.