Vital link road to Vagamon crumbles as restoration work stalls

Upputhara: The Kattadikkavala–Pashuppara Road remains in a state of disrepair, leaving nearly 500 families in limbo. Initially sanctioned under the Rebuild Kerala initiative, the funds earmarked for its restoration were later frozen, pushing the project into uncertainty and plunging local residents into distress.

This road serves as a lifeline for families in Pashuppara and the Alampally estates and is equally vital for those in the agrarian regions of Kappipathal, Malayapputhuval and Inchimalapputhuval. Despite its importance, the road has seen no major repairs in over 25 years.

Frustrated by years of neglect, residents had formed an action council and launched a protest demanding attention to this link road to Vagamon. Their efforts bore fruit when ₹3 crore was sanctioned under Rebuild Kerala in 2020, during the tenure of then MLA E S Bijimol. The Upputhara panchayat followed up by allocating additional funds and conducting a survey to widen the road.

The original plan was to expand the road to 6 metres, later revised to 8 metres, leading to a funding shortfall. The district panchayat stepped in with additional financial support, and tender procedures were completed. The project was even inaugurated twice.

But just as work was about to begin, technical delays brought progress to a standstill. The government then froze the funds entirely, halting the project. Kattapana block panchayat member P Nixon has since approached the Kerala High Court, challenging the freezing of funds despite completed tender formalities and prior allocation under Rebuild Kerala.

At one time, several buses, including KSRTC services, used to run regularly through this route. But with the road turning virtually unmotorable, KSRTC suspended operations. Now, only a handful of private buses ply the stretch, and even those are dwindling.

Frustration is growing among residents, as large sections of the road remain stripped of even a trace of tar.