Palakkad-Kozhikode Greenfield Highway Construction to Begin Soon After Meeting

The construction of the 121-km Palakkad-Kozhikode Greenfield Highway is set to begin shortly, following a high-level meeting in New Delhi between Kerala's Minister for Public Works, P.K. Basheer, and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari.

The six-lane highway, part of the Union government's Bharatmala project, has seen over 95% of land acquisition completed. The project, estimated to cost ₹8,000 crore, will pass primarily through rural areas of Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode districts.

During the meeting, Gadkari raised concerns about an official study suggesting that certain stretches might not see expected traffic volumes—a issue that had delayed the project last year. However, the Kerala delegation argued these concerns were unfounded, leading both sides to agree on fast-tracking the project.

According to the detailed project report, the highway will feature partial access control, though specifics are yet to be finalised. Once completed, travel time between Palakkad and Kozhikode will reduce from four hours to two, and it will provide smoother access to Calicut International Airport and KINFRA industrial parks.

Public Works department engineers said the new greenfield road will integrate with existing highways and roads in three districts. It will connect directly with National Highway 544 and National Highway 66, along with eight state highways and five major district roads. The corridor will link 11 bus terminals and pass near three major railway stations: Kozhikode, Thuvvur, and Palakkad.

Over ₹2,000 crore has already been disbursed as compensation to landowners. Before construction begins, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) must prepare an inventory of all buildings on the acquired land. Once done, tenders will be floated for demolition. Revenue department sources said the government will soon issue a 3D notification to take possession of remaining land for rest areas along the highway.

However, some residents remain sceptical due to past delays in land acquisition and formalities. They allege that large portions of acquired land and abandoned houses have become overgrown with wild vegetation, creating breeding grounds for reptiles and stray animals, making the area unsafe for walking.