The Indian National Highway Office (Nhai) decided to obtain land, including houses, in the Kunnyoramal area near Koyilanda, Kozhikode, where the terrain became highly vulnerable to the slips.
This step is governed by the Directive from the Chief Minister on the basis of a petition submitted by Sumati km, Chairman of Kunnyoramala Samyukth Samar Samithi, and supported by Vadakar Shafi Paramtil. For residents who have been protesting for years over the safety of their homes and land, the decision comes as a great relief. Their properties were left unstable after deep excavations for the development of the national highway 66.
Kunnyoramala is located on the section Vengalam -Azhiyur NH-66, developing M/s Azhiyur-vengalam Road PVT Ltd. Stretch decreases between Chemiancheri and Nandi Bazaar, where the highway bypasses the existing road and the city of Koyilanda. In order to maintain the level of the road in this hilly terrain, the developers had to alternate between deep excavations and embankments.
Soon after the start of the excavations, however, complaints appeared when the soil began to deal with in several points, so that the houses and land on both sides of the road threaten. Several families feared collapse, left their homes. The inhabitants then met under Kunnyoramala Samyukth Samar Samithi and demand that Nhai would gain their land because it was no longer safe to live.
After the persistent protests, Mrs Sumati received a letter from the Director of Nhai Prashant Dubey, who confirmed that the land on both sides of the highway near Kunnyoramala will be obtained to facilitate protection against inclination. Another land will only be taken on the basis of revised plans and web requirements, a letter noted.
Initially, Nhai excluded more land. After the intensifying protests, however, the director of the project and higher officials inspected the website and assessed the situation. This matter was also escalated by the Deputy Minister of Transport Transport Transport and the Nitin motorway, Gadkari, which led to a change in attitude.
Published – 28 September 2025 17:17
