Action Committee Urges Thamarassery Bypass to Ease Ghat Road Traffic

Rapid Summary

• Thamarassery Ghat Road in Kerala has been restricted to emergency vehicles only due to safety concerns like falling rocks and mud slips,as directed by the Disaster Management Authority.
• Traders from Kozhikode and Wayanad have formed an action committee demanding a bypass road between Thamarassery and Wayanad to relieve traffic congestion.
• V.K. Hussain Kutty (Chairman) and T.R. Omanakkuttan (General Convener) highlighted frequent traffic snarls on NH 766 connecting Kozhikode with karnataka, which have negatively impacted businesses.
• The proposed bypass road would start at Thusharagiri (first hairpin curve) and end at Thalippuzha in Wayanad, reducing travel distance by 1.5 km; however, progress has stalled since a land survey conducted in 2006.
• Option projects such as the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road and Poozhithode-Padinjarathara route are deemed insufficient by the committee because they increase travel distance for those starting from Thamarassery.
• To press their demands, two protest marches (‘jathas’) are planned: Sulthan Bathery to vythiri on September 16, followed by Adivaram to Kozhikode city on September 17.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The persistent traffic challenges along the Thamarassery Ghat Road underscore critical infrastructure gaps affecting daily life and commerce between Kerala’s Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. While new bypass routes could alleviate bottlenecks caused by landslides on NH 766, sluggish progress since initial surveys reflects broader inefficiencies in project execution.

The traders’ proposal for a specific bypass appears rooted in practical concerns regarding connectivity improvements without burdening local commuters with increased distances-an issue overlooked by existing alternatives like tunnel roads or long detours. With safety now necessitating full closure of the Ghat Road except for emergencies, accelerated prioritization of these infrastructure projects gains urgency.

This incident highlights how infrastructure planning serves not just logistical functions but also affects livelihoods tied to uninterrupted movement of goods through key economic corridors-a matter policymakers must address promptly given Kerala’s heavy reliance on internal trade networks.

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