Work on Mananchira–Malapparamba Road to commence soon

Mananchira–Vellimadukunnu Road development set to begin soon, with 5.32-km stretch planned at ₹80 crore cost.

The much-awaited development of the Mananchira–Vellimadukunnu Road is likely to begin soon, as the Public Works department has finalised the tender for the works. The department is planning to enter into a contract with Malappuram-based Midland Projects within two weeks, and the work will commence shortly after.

In the first phase, the plan is to develop the stretch from the junction of Pavamani Road and Bank Road in Mananchira to the Malapparamba junction, where the road meets NH-66. The 5.32-km stretch is being developed at a cost of ₹80 crore. The road will be 8.5 metres wide, with a two-metre median at the centre and two-metre-wide footpaths on both sides. Additionally, there will be a half-metre-wide space on either side for gardening. The drainage and cable duct, both one metre in width, will run beneath the footpath. Around 350 streetlights will be installed on the median.

The Malapparamba–Mananchira stretch is being developed under the City Road Improvement Project. Land acquisition for the project is mostly complete, except for a few small plots that remain under dispute.

The project is the result of a long-pending public demand and nearly 15 years of persistent effort by the Mananchira–Vellimadukunnu Road Action Committee, headed by historian M.G.S. Narayanan, who passed away recently.

The development of the Mananchira–Malapparamba stretch is expected to be completed by early 2026. However, the remaining portion from Malapparamba to Vellimadukunnu is to be developed by the National Highways Authority of India, as it forms part of National Highway 766 (Kozhikode–Kollegal).