Action committee to intensify protest against delay in implementing Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu road project

Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu Road Action Committee intensifies protest against State government's inaction on road development project.

The Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu Road Action Committee is planning to intensify its protest against the lack of action by the State government on the Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu road development project. The Committee, headed by historian M.G.S. Narayanan, has fought an ardent battle for over 15 years to activate the proposed development plan announced in 2008. Funds were passed by various governments in several stages, and land acquisition has been completed except for a very small portion of land caught up in litigation. However, the State has made no move to float a tender for the work, raising serious questions.

“The authorities have been dragging their feet on this matter for years. Ever since P.A. Mohamed Riyas became the PWD Minister four years ago, he has announced at least five times that the tender would be floated soon. But it has not materialised yet,” said M.P. Vasudevan, Secretary of the Committee.

Matters have become easier for the State government with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) taking up the development of a 1.5-kilometre stretch from Malapparamba to Vellimadukunnu as part of the development of National Highway 766 from Kozhikode to Kollegal. The State now needs to develop only the 7-kilometre stretch from Malapparamba to Mananchira and connect it to the National Highway.

“The State has passed a total of ₹134 crore for the project, a sizeable chunk of which could be saved with the NHAI taking up part of the road,” Mr. Vasudevan said, pointing out that the tender fund was passed one and a half years ago, yet there has been no move to float the tender. The Committee is planning to stage an NH blockade in April as part of the protest.