Land to start construction of Palakkad-Kozhikode expressway on green field

Construction of the 121-km Palakkad-Kozhikode Greenfield Highway is expected to begin soon after a high-level meeting held in New Delhi recently between Public Works Minister PK Basheer and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

The six-lane expressway, proposed under the Bharatmala project of the Union government, is back on track with over 95% of land acquisition completed for the ₹8,000 crore project, which passes through the largely rural areas of Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

Although Mr. Gadkari raised concerns during a recent meeting over an official study suggesting that certain stretches of the expressway may not see expected traffic, an issue that delayed the project last year, the Kerala delegation said the concerns were unfounded, paving the way for both sides to agree to speed up the project.

According to a detailed project report, the expressway will include partial access control, although the exact details of how it will work are yet to be finalized. Once completed, the expressway will reduce the travel time between Palakkad and Kozhikode from four hours to two, offering motorists a faster commute. It will also provide smoother access to Calicut International Airport and KINFRA Industrial Parks.

Public Works Department engineers said the new greenfield road will integrate extensively with existing highways and link roads in the three districts. It would connect directly with National Highway 544 and National Highway 66, besides eight state highways and five major district highways. Besides, the new green corridor will connect 11 bus terminals and run in close proximity to three major railway stations namely Kozhikode, Thuvvur and Palakkad.

More than ₹2,000 crore has already been paid as compensation to the land owners. The remaining task before construction begins is for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to prepare an inventory of all the buildings on the acquired land. After completion, tenders will be issued for the demolition of these buildings. Sources in the revenue department said the government will soon issue a 3D notification to take over the remaining land required for construction of rest stops along the highway.

Meanwhile, a section of residents are yet to express confidence in the latest development as the inordinate delay in completing land acquisition and related formalities has already slowed down the expected pace of the project. They claimed that large parts of the reclaimed land and several abandoned houses were overgrown with wild vegetation. According to them, neglected places have also turned into breeding grounds for reptiles and stray animals, making it difficult for people to walk around the area safely.

Published – 12 Jul 2026 19:42 IST