Demands grow for elevated road on NH-66 stretch in Nileshwar

Kozhikode: The agitation led by Janakeeya Samara Samiti (JSS) in Nileshwar has entered the 28th day, with protesters intensifying their demand for the construction of an elevated road at the Nileshwar market junction on the NH 66 stretch in Kasaragod. JSS alleges that the ongoing embankment work cutting through the town centre will severely disrupt mobility and choke access to key public spaces, including markets, the railway station and educational institutions. According to residents, the earthen embankment risks dividing the town into eastern and western segments, restricting the natural flow of people and vehicles. Protesters also warn that access to Raja Road, the town's main arterial route, will be significantly affected, potentially leading to heavy traffic congestion. They fear that increasing delays could prompt commuters from nearby areas to avoid Nileshwar altogether, affecting local commerce. JSS has been demanding a pillar-based elevated flyover that would accommodate two-lane service roads on either side. In addition, it has called for the demolition of the existing two-lane river bridge, constructed in 1957, and its replacement with a three-lane bridge integrated with the elevated flyover. Without such measures, they argue, the six-lane NH 66 would narrow to five lanes at the river stretch, creating a bottleneck. JSS chairperson Sreenath Sasi said that authorities who are duty-bound to protect people's freedom of movement and lives are turning a blind eye to the unscientific embankment construction taking place in Nileshwar. "What Nileshwar needs is a pillar-based elevated highway from the Nileshwar river to the police station as the land in the area is marshy. It is vital to prevent a disaster and to safeguard the lives of children studying at the AUP School in the market area, and to ensure free movement for the public," he said. Retired SP Raju Ramootty, a JSS member, alleged that the proposed elevated highway from Nedunkandam to Karuvachery has been effectively sidelined. He said the market junction, once a vibrant commercial hub, has already begun to lose its importance due to the ongoing works. Meanwhile, NHAI stated that a vehicular underpass had already been included in the concession agreement. They added that, following public demand, approval has also been granted for the construction of a pedestrian underpass.