1 week ago
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Traffic congestion connected the Kannur-Kozhikode National Highway has worsened amid prolonged delays successful the widening works connected the Vengalam-Azhiyur stretch. Many motorists are present opting for alternate agrarian routes via Perambra and Kuttiyadi to debar postulation snarls during highest hours.
With the summertime downpour, the gait of roadworthy enactment connected the 48-km agelong has been severely deed again. With hardly 3 weeks near for the onset of the southwest monsoon, the concern is apt to worsen owed to the inordinate delay.
As per the archetypal operation agreement, the roadworthy widening enactment connected the Vengalam-Azhiyur agelong was expected to beryllium completed by April 2024. Even a twelvemonth aft the deadline, the stretch, which was divided into 4 segments for speedy execution, remains incomplete. According to Public Works section sources, the deadline has precocious been extended to March 2027 pursuing a petition from the contracting company.
Construction of retaining walls and repair of damaged soil-nailing works carried retired earlier for crushed stabilisation stay pending astatine respective locations. Affected residents from Azhiyur, Mukkali, Madappally, Kannukkara and Nadapuram Road person approached section administrators and people’s representatives seeking a speedy resolution.
Major works, including the projected flyover betwixt Vadakara autobus basal and Karimbanapalam and respective work and attack roads, are yet to begin. The projected skywalk astatine Kunniyormala successful Koyilandy besides remains successful limbo.
“We larn that determination are plans to alteration the contractors successful 2 stretches. There should beryllium amended supervision to guarantee timely completion,” said Mohammed Rasheed, a nonmigratory of Kannukkara. He alleged that the contracting companies had failed to deploy capable labour for the works.
Bus operators connected the way person besides staged protests against the snail-paced work, which, according to them, has accrued unit connected drivers owed to predominant bottlenecks. They besides claimed that the mediocre information of the roadworthy was affecting the mechanical fittingness of inter-district buses.
“Even aft the concern was reviewed by a squad of experts connected the District Collector’s instruction, thing happened different than expanding the labour unit successful immoderate stretches. There should beryllium stronger and accordant monitoring mechanisms,” said a section assemblage subordinate from Payyoli. He warned that the contiguous concern could yet pb to a wide indefinite protest.
Meanwhile, sources with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said efforts were nether mode to reassess the gait of enactment up of the monsoon season. They added that stringent action, including termination of subcontracts, would beryllium recommended successful cases of sedate negligence.
