Kalpetta: Despite repeated assurances of an alternative route to the ghat road, travel between Wayanad and the rest of the state remains an ordeal. For the past two weeks, regular traffic has been severely disrupted by recurring accidents on the ghat stretch of the Kozhikode–Kollegal National Highway. On Monday, traffic remained stalled for hours following another accident on the route.

Four accidents—though all minor—led to prolonged traffic snarls last week alone, according to local reports. Several citizens’ forums have urged the state government to intervene immediately to ensure smooth traffic flow along the Thamarassery ghat road.

The narrow stretches of the ghat section have increasingly become accident-prone. The Road Accident Action Forum district committee has demanded that slabs be installed over the drainage channels along the route, noting that many vehicles skid into open drains lacking protective barriers. In a press release, the organisation noted that the ghat road carries heavy traffic daily, including regular commuters, students, traders and trucks transporting goods, which frequently results in congestion.

District president Muhammed Faris and general secretary Saji Mandalathil submitted a memorandum to authorities stating that covering the drains with slabs would widen the carriageway and help vehicles pass safely through narrow stretches. They added that potholes at the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th hairpin bends are worsening the situation and should be repaired urgently. The heavy flow of Sabarimala pilgrims has further aggravated congestion, they said.

Although the Forest Department approved the widening of the bends after the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change granted clearance in 2022, the project remains a non-starter. Trees identified for removal have already been marked, but the valuation process is yet to be completed.

The National Highways Authority of India has finished the procedures for widening the 6th, 7th and 8th hairpin bends of the Wayanad ghat road. The ₹37-crore renovation contract has been awarded to Choudhari Construction Company, New Delhi. The work includes road widening, construction of footpaths and handrails and building protective walls.

Once completed, the project aims to achieve a road width of 14.55 to 17.3 metres at the start of the curves and 26.50 to 38.15 metres at the middle of the bends. However, despite the Public Works Department acquiring 0.92 hectares of land from the Forest Department and paying ₹32 lakh for the widening in April 2018, it has made no meaningful progress since, apart from issuing repeated assurances.