The 18.6-km Thalassery-Mahi bypass road is a reality, but has turned into a battleground as the CPI(M) and the BJP jockey for credit.
The bypass. (Screengrab)
A turf war has broken out between the CPI(M) and the BJP over a bypass road in Kannur, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing on Monday, 11 March.
The 18.6-km Thalassery-Mahi bypass road, which finally emerged after decades of promises and delays, has turned into a battleground for political supremacy.
The road is intended to alleviate traffic congestion and boost regional connectivity between Kannur and Kozhikode.
The bypass is between Muzhupilangadu in Kannur and Azhiyoor in Kozhikode and the travel time will now be shortened to 20 minutes.
According to the CPI(M), the bypass road was a testament to its commitment to progress and development, as it claimed credit for the newfound ease of transportation.
PWD Minister PA Mohammad Riyas said in a Facebook video post on Sunday, “A long wait of 51 years is over. It was in 1973 that the project was conceived. In 1977, it was decided to identify the land for acquisition. In 1980, the land acquisition process began. But due to various reasons, it got delayed.”
He added, “It was the efforts of the first LDF government that gave a new lease of life to this project. The land acquisition process was sped up and the government worked closely with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highway Authority of India to make this project a reality.”
The minister, along with Speaker AN Shamseer and other officials also took a trip in an open double-decker bus on the newly inaugurated bypass.
At the same time, much before the inauguration, BJP candidates for Vadakara and Kannur Lok Sabha constituencies Praful Krishna and C Raghunath together took out a car rally.
The BJP claimed that it’s because of their efforts that the bypass has become a reality.
Caught in the crossfire were the citizens, who had endured years of inconvenience and frustration as the project languished in bureaucratic quagmires.
While some celebrated the road’s completion regardless of political affiliations, others feel disillusioned by the politicisation of what should have been a triumph of public service.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 112 National Highway projects spread across the country worth about ₹1 lakh crore at Gurugram in Haryana on Monday.
(Edited by Arkadev Ghoshal)
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