The Union Ministry of Surface Transport has, in principle, approved the development works of the Malaparamba–Vellimadukunnu road, which had been put on hold by the State Government pending central approval. Kozhikode MP M.K. Raghavan said he received an intimation from the Ministry to this effect after meeting Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari on July 30.
However, the Ministry has directed the State Government to include the project in the annual project plan and submit a detailed project report for the development of the stretch, which comes under National Highway 766.
The project for widening the 8 km-long Mananchira–Vellimadukunnu road has been pending for over 15 years. The State Government had decided to take up development of the stretch from Mananchira to Malaparamba, while the remaining section was deferred as it required central approval.