Karaparamba-Eranhipalam road

KOZHIKODE: Driving through the Karaparamba- Eranhipalam road is the city has become a nightmare for the motorists who have a harrowing time negotiating through frequent traffic blocks. Apart from the narrowness of the road, deep potholes and heavy flow of vehicles make driving a tough task on the stretch.
Though the road is included in the city road improvement project and land acquisition for widening the stretch was completed nearly three years ago by evacuating traders and houses, the widening work is yet to start.
"The road is narrow compared to the heavy flow of vehicles on the route," said P P Muraleedharan, vice president of Suvarnatheeram Residents Association. Long queues of vehicles from Eranhipalam to Karaparamba junction is a regular sight during peak hours, he said adding that the situation would worsen with the completion of the work of three multi-storey apartments one 40 -storey and another 25- storey residential facility.
The narrowness of Valiyapalam, a bridge connecting Balussery road to Karaparamba junction also is a major cause for the block on the stretch. Though another bridge- Cheriyapalam also exists, only two wheelers will be able to pass through that bridge.
Though it was assured that the Karaparamba-Eranhipalam stretch would be made pothole-free under the 4N (Namukku Nikatham Nammude Nirathukal) project of the district collector, the initiative did not succeed in deriving the desired result.
"The land acquired by the government for widening the Karaparamba- Eranhipalam- Arayidathupalam- Kalluthankadavu road is now being used for illegal parking," said V Sivaraman, a resident of Karaparamba.
When asked about the development of the road which is included in the city road improvement scheme, Sudarshanan Pillai, general manager of the Road Fund Board said that they expect the CRIP works to begin in 2-3 months.
The RFB has already sanctioned 90% of the total amount required for shifting the utility cables and posts to KSEB and BSNL. The amount to the KWA will be disbursed the next week, said Pillai.