The ongoing widening of National Highway-66 in Kozhikode district continues to face significant delays despite earlier decisions to beef up manpower. The decision taken in the district meeting convened by District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh was not implemented, leading mainly to slow progress on the Vengalam-Azhiyoor stretch.
“Work remains particularly slow between the Azhiyoor–Nadapuram Road and Nadapuram Road–Puthuppanam sections. Although completion targets were earlier set for December 2025 and March 2026, officials indicated that difficult terrain, limited manpower and pending embankment and flyover work could further delay the timeline,” says local councilor V. Ratheeshkar. He points out that even after the resumption of work, which was earlier interrupted by the monsoon downpour, there was no significant increase in the number of workers on site.
According to local action board members, several major works, including repairs to soil nailing at Kannukkara and Madappally, remain intact. The Nadapuram Road–Puthuppanam stretch is the worst affected, with four flyovers and embankments still underway. They claim that the construction of the Madappally underpass has not yet started, while shortage of soil for backfilling work continues to cause disruptions at many places.
At an earlier review meeting, officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) reaffirmed their plans to complete all emergency repairs on the highway within the time limit and cover the affected areas. However, the worst affected places near Vadakara showed no improvement even after several rounds of review meetings and field assessments.
“It is the lack of manpower that is delaying the entire project. There are no proper inspections at the field level to monitor the progress and carry out the required repairs. With such minimal staff, the contractors will not be able to meet the deadline,” says TK Subhash, another member of the action committee. He adds that the management of the municipal district should create a new committee that would ensure a thorough inspection of the project.
A section of private bus operators, fed up with the poor condition of the road, had earlier resorted to flash strikes on the route. According to them, the poor condition of the road was one of the main reasons for the recurring mechanical problems in the vehicles. Water-filled potholes, inadequate lighting and lack of proper warning signs also emerged as major problems on the accident-prone route.
Meanwhile, NHAI sources say that arrangements have already been made for daily monitoring and reporting. They add that the alleged delay in strengthening the workforce will be re-examined in light of public complaints.
Published – 15 Oct 2025 20:23 IST
