KOZHIKODE: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called for a systematic way to tackle the increasing traffic issues in the state. “In the last one year, 8.5 lakh new vehicles were registered in the state, resulting in traffic congestion. A total of 1.2 crore vehicles are plying on the state roads,” he said. He was inaugurating the first phase of the city road development project, which included six major roads here. It was implemented at a cost of Rs 138 crore.
Mr Vijayan said this year’s budget had set apart Rs 40,000 crore for various development projects and the priority was given for roads, bridges and flyovers. The government was ready with Rs 12,600 crore to kickstart various activities, he said. Last year, 4,287 people died in road accidents, in which the majority were between the age group of 20- 25. One major reason was the pathetic condition of the roads which the government was rectifying now. Vested interests had hindered the development of the state.
“But we will showcase the state as a model for development,” he added. The work completed includes, Stadium-Puthiyara, Karaparamba-Kalluthankkadavu, Kovoor-Vellimadukunnu, Gandhi road-minibypass, Panathuthazham-CWRDM and Pushpa Junction-Mankavu. The Karaparamba-Kalluthankkadavu road was converted to four-lane carriageway and the other roads were widened to 10 metres. A total of 22.4 km was modernised.
“The second phase will include nine roads, for which an initial amount of Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned already,” said Mr A. Pradeep Kumar MLA, who presented a report on the project. The Mananchira- Vellimadukunnu road work was delayed due to the acquisition procedures. Steps were taken to speed up the work, he said. The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, which completed the work four months before the deadline, received praise from the chief minister and others at the function.
