
The road connecting Mini Bypass Road with National Highway 66 across Sarovaram Biopark
| Photo Credit: K. Ragesh
The Public Works department (PWD) has completed laying tentative boundary stones to aid land acquisition for the proposed flyover and road connecting Mini Bypass Road with National Highway 66 across Sarovaram Biopark here. A notice has been issued to landowners who are likely to lose their property to the project, and a survey is under way.
The much-awaited project involves a 1-km road from the junction of Gandhi Road and Mini Bypass Road near Sarovaram Biopark to Kottooli Post Office Junction at Panathuthazham. It is connected to the NH from Panathuthazham by an existing four-lane road.
“A gazette notification has already been issued announcing the government’s intent to acquire land for this project. Once the actual boundary stones are laid, the Revenue department will conduct the Social Impact Assessment before going ahead with the acquisition process”, said Vinay Raj, Project Officer for the Kozhikode City Road Improvement Project (KCRIP) under which the road is being constructed.
Meanwhile, the PWD has already submitted the alignment sketch and the requisition to acquire land to the Revenue department.
The government has set aside ₹53.69 crore for the construction, while another ₹21.78 crore has been allocated for land acquisition. Of the 1-km stretch, 400 metres will be a flyover over the Sarovaram Biopark to ensure that the Kottooli Wetlands are not disturbed. It will be the first four-lane flyover under the KCRIP, built at least 6 metres above the water level of the Conolly Canal and 18 metres wide.
Meanwhile, there has been discontent among residents on both sides of the canal regarding land acquisition. Some people attempted to stop the laying of the tentative boundary stones, prompting police intervention to complete the process. “This is a project that would cause minimal damage. We may not have to remove more than four houses. The wetland will also not be disturbed,” said Mr. Vinay Raj.
Published – July 08, 2025 06:10 pm IST