Tenders for bypass widening to be opened next week.

The project to convert the 28.8-km Kozhikode Bypass into a six-lane carriageway is finally taking off with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways deciding to open the tenders received from construction companies next week.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Manager P.K. Suresh told The Hindu on Friday that the proposal was to widen the existing two-lane highway stretching from Vengalam to Idimuzhikkal at an estimated cost of ₹1,595.50 crore. The required land of 130 hectares for widening the bypass into 45-metre-width had already been acquired. The contract based on hybrid annuity model for completing the work is for two-and-a-half years.

The Centre had proposed to widen the Kozhikode Bypass based on the report of the Gurgaon-headquartered Feedback Infra. According to the hybrid annuity model, the government will chip in with 40% of the project cost to the developer to start work while the remaining investment has to be made by the developer.

The widening is expected to decongest the section of NH-17 (new NH-66), especially at Malaparamba, Thondayad and Ramanattukara junctions. Currently, vehicles from Vadakara side and Mini Bypass use the bypass to proceed to Calicut airport and Thrissur and vice versa without entering the city.

Mr. Suresh said that proposals had been made to construct four major bridges, a minor bridge, seven flyovers, two vehicle underpasses, 17 pedestrian underpasses, 64 pipe culverts and 39 box culverts.

Already, the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) is carrying out the construction of flyovers parallel to the national highway at Ramanattukara and Thondayad junctions. Incidentally, the project also includes the construction of new bridges across the Korapuzha and Purakkateri rivers, and two more flyovers at Ramanattukara and Thondayad junctions. Previously, the NHAI had examined the proposals to construct more underpasses and foot overbridges since 50% of the accident deaths in the city occurred on the Kozhikode Bypass.

Big construction companies, including ULCCS, are learnt to have taken part in the tendering process. Mumbai-based GHV constructions and Perumbavoor-based EKK Constructions jointly had secured the contract for widening the 17-km Thalassery Bypass (from Azhiyur to Muzhippilngad).

THE HINDU