A vital field survey to determine the best possible route for the eagerly anticipated Poozhithode–Padinjarathara bypass has been successfully finished. Expert engineers from the Kozhikode-based Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society oversaw the entire process. The survey, which wrapped up last week in the Kozhikode district, pinpointed a viable route that not only shortens the overall distance but also expertly navigates around the challenging curves and steep inclines present in previous proposals.
The State government allocated ₹1.50 crore to fund this survey, a crucial step for a project designed to offer an alternative route to the heavily trafficked Thamarassery pass. Progress had been stalled significantly due to the necessary approvals from the Forest department, particularly for surveying areas within the sensitive Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary. Finally, permission was granted on June 13, 2025, though monsoon-related issues caused some temporary delays in the subsequent work.
Earlier, initial survey work had already been conducted along a section of the route, specifically the Poozhithode–Karinkanni stretch, which traverses forest land within the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary. This followed the completion of a comprehensive field survey in the neighboring Wayanad district.
An engineer involved in the project expressed optimism, stating that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is anticipated within two weeks, following a comprehensive review of the proposed alignments. As per the directives from the Public Works Department, specifics of two practical routes will be submitted shortly for their ultimate assessment. The engineer also reassured that the project is designed to avoid any environmental harm or disturbance to local wildlife.
This ambitious 27-kilometer Poozhithode–Padinjarathara bypass project originally commenced way back in 1994. Approximately 70% of the total construction was completed before it was brought to a halt in 1995. The interruption occurred due to strong objections from the Forest department, who determined that roughly nine kilometers of the planned route encroached upon reserved forest land, making it unsuitable for road construction.
Revenue department officials confirmed that 183 families—150 in Wayanad and 33 in Kozhikode—had relinquished their land for this project almost three decades ago. The already completed sections span 14.28 km, comprising a 2-km stretch from Poozhithode to Panakkamkadavu, a 5-km unpaved road from Panakkamkadavu to Karinkanni on the Kozhikode side, and the Padinjarathara–Kalikkalam section in Wayanad. The remaining 12.94 km, which crucially includes 9 km of forest land, is slated for completion in the upcoming phase.