Chippilithode–Thalappuzha bypass project gains momentum as Centre clears DPR preparation

Kalpetta: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has cleared the proposal to invite tenders for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Chippilithode–Marutilavu–Thalappuzha bypass road, envisioned as an alternative route to decongest the Thamarassery Ghat Road.

The project is expected to significantly improve Wayanad’s connectivity with the rest of the state, offering relief to residents who regularly face delays due to traffic bottlenecks. Officials said the proposed alignment would involve fewer curves and a lower elevation than the existing ghat road.

The bypass will run for 14.5 km from Chippilithode, near the first hairpin bend on the Thamarassery pass, to Thalappuzha junction. About 2 km of the stretch falls within forest land, for which a tunnel has been proposed. The road has been surveyed twice previously, and the state government had earlier made a token allocation for preliminary work.

Traffic on the Thamarassery Ghat Road has been moving slowly for several days following the Christmas holidays. With the tourist season in full swing, vehicular flow has increased sharply, resulting in frequent congestion.

Momentum for the bypass proposal strengthened after the Union Ministry restructured the Malaparamba (Kozhikode)–Muthanga National Highway expansion into a single-reach project, replacing the earlier two-phase plan covering Malaparamba–Puthuppady and Puthuppady–Muthanga.

Kalpetta MLA T Siddique told Onmanorama that the state government had failed to advance the bypass project despite being in power for the past decade. He said the proposal was cleared promptly after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi raised the issue with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Siddique added that both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had been actively advocating the project.