Construction work on Mananchira-Malaparamba section of Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu road in Kozhikode is yet to resume. | Photo credit: K. Ragesh
Labor shortages caused by migrant workers from West Bengal and Assam who did not return after the assembly elections, along with shortages of materials such as bitumen due to conflict in West Asia, are hampering the continued expansion of the Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu road in Kozhikode.
An official attached to the Kerala Road Fund Board told The Hindu that migrant workers from West Bengal and Assam form a large part of the workforce and that when they returned to their home states for the elections, the construction industry experienced setbacks. While the section has returned to service and construction is expected to resume soon, the bitumen shortage still needs to be addressed.
According to the official, tarring in some areas, installation of road signs and street lamps, construction of footpaths and laying of slabs over drains remained incomplete. Preparations for the second phase of the Malaparamba-Vellimadukunnu road project are underway, he added.
While the proposal to widen the 8.34 km Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu road by 24 metres, under the Kozhikode City Road Improvement Project, was announced in 2008–2009, construction did not begin until June 2025. Eight months later, Public Works Minister PA Mohamed Riyas launched the first phase of 2-2. Mananchira-Malaparamba section on March 9, despite not being fully completed.
Tree clearing delayed construction work as it was necessary to ensure that there would be no power outages during the summer. Similarly, drainage had to be carefully dug to avoid cutting utility cables, including telephone lines, the official said, adding that he was unable to confirm when the road would be fully ready.
After the road is completed, attempts will be made to convert the previously one-way road into a two-way road. However, several motorists are already using the road as a two-way stretch, raising concerns about safety and traffic congestion in Malaparamba.
Meanwhile, in the pre-monsoon period, laying slabs over drains remains a problem. “Slabs covering the drains have only been laid in front of the shops, while the steel rods protruding from the incomplete structure are a safety hazard,” said a resident of Malaparamba.
Junaid Farhath, an architect, said authorities should facilitate pedestrian facilities and wheelchair access at various intersections once the road that passes through the heart of the city is completed.
Published – 09 May 2026 20:17 IST
