KOZHIKODE: The isolation of Wayanad from other parts of the state due to the heavy downpour that washed out the road in the ghat stretch of National Highway 766 (earlier NH 212) connecting Kozhikode and Wayanad, once again highlights the need for an alternative road in the hill district so it can remain connected to other Southern districts. Flash flood-hit, the road would be closed if the rain intensified, officials said. Meanwhile, the Kozhikode district administration has called for a meeting of officials and people’s representatives of the two districts in Kozhikode on October 13.
Kozhikode district collector U.V. Jose told DC that the incident had exposed the situation in the ghat road which was unable to withstand heavy rains, even for a few days. Mr Jose told DC that a collective brainstorming session was essential to discuss possible alternative roads and ways to strengthen the existing road. Meanwhile, PWD officials have already contacted the Kozhikode Divisional forest officer K.K. Sunilkumar for expansion of the hairpin bends by acquiring land. Mr Sunilkumar told DC that the ‘stage 1’ clearance for availing 2.18 acres land had already been sanctioned and was awaiting an order from higher authorities.
On the widening of the road at narrow stretches, he said that so far there was no request from the highways department pending. The legislative members from Wayanad are batting for both expansion of the ghat road and an alternative road for heavy vehicles. “The state government is considering all possibilities to improve the transport facilities to Wayanad from the plains”, said Kalpetta MLA CK Saseendran. “A tunnel road connecting Wayanad with Kozhikode district, a project already flagged off by Tiruvambadi MLA George M Thomas is also under consideration”, he added.
The Adivaram-Thalippuzha road, the alternate road to Wayanad ghat road, connecting Kozhikode and Wayanad districts, is still a dream due the failure of the state government in getting environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The total Rs 50 crore project was envisaged as a 14.5-km bypass beginning and ending on NH 212. In 2012, the state government had allotted '56 lakh for the initial phase of the road. About 8.5 km of the proposed road passes through ecologically fragile land and forest land recovered from a private estate.
