Construction of the 121-km Palakkad-Kozhikode Greenfield Highway is expected to begin soon following a high-level meeting recently held in New Delhi between Minister for Public Works P.K. Basheer and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The six-lane highway, proposed under the Union government’s Bharatmala project, is back on track, with over 95% of the land acquisition completed for the ₹8,000-crore project, which passes mostly through the rural areas of Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode, districts.
Though Mr. Gadkari, during the recent meeting, expressed concerns over an official study suggesting that certain stretches of the highway might not witness the expected traffic volume, an issue that had delayed the project last year, the Kerala delegation argued that the concerns were unfounded, paving the way for both sides to agree on fast-tracking the project.
According to the detailed project report, the highway will feature partial access control, though the exact details of how this will function are yet to be finalised. Once completed, the highway will reduce travel time between Palakkad and Kozhikode from four hours to two, offering motorists a faster commute. It will also provide smoother access to the Calicut International Airport and KINFRA industrial parks.
Public Works department engineers said the new greenfield road will integrate extensively with the existing highways and connected roads in three districts. It would connect directly with National Highway 544 and National Highway 66, alongside eight State Highways and five major district roads. Furthermore, the new green corridor will link 11 bus terminals and run in close proximity to three major railway stations, namely Kozhikode, Thuvvur, and Palakkad.
More than ₹2,000 crore has already been disbursed as compensation to landowners. The remaining task before construction begins is for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to prepare an inventory of all buildings on the acquired land. Once this is completed, tenders will be floated for the demolition of these structures. Revenue department sources said the government would soon issue a 3D notification to take possession of the remaining land required for the construction of rest areas along the highway.
Meanwhile, a section of residents is yet to express confidence in the latest developments, as the inordinate delay in completing land acquisition and related formalities has already slowed the project’s anticipated pace. They alleged that large portions of the acquired land and several abandoned houses have become overgrown with wild vegetation. The neglected sites have also turned into breeding grounds for reptiles and stray animals, making it difficult for people to walk safely through the area, they said.
Published – July 12, 2026 07:42 pm IST
