Nothing has changed yet even after a flood of announcements by the authorities that the Chamravattom route connecting Ponnani and Chelari would be improved. A special package was declared by the PWD Minister himself for improving the narrow road, after the inauguration of Chamravattom Regulator-cum-Overbridge.
But only some minor works have been completed so far. Heavy rain has also deteriorated the condition of roads in the area. “We have requested the authorities for immediate renovation of the Chamravattom stretch. The proposed projects are yet to be launched. We will pressurise the government to start it soon,” Kalady panchayat
president Beeravunni said. The opening of the bridge had given hopes to the people that the traffic woes on the Thrissur-Kozhikode route will end. But most of the drivers still choose the National Highway via Edappal and Kuttippuram instead of the Chamravattom route even it saves up to 45km in Ernakulam-Kozhikode journey.
The Chamravattom route lso promises a time saving of up to one-and-half hours in Ernakulam-Kozhikode journey. But the narrow routes and bottleneck at junctions delay free flow of vehicles on this route. NH 66 via Edappal and Kuttippuram has vehicles more than its capacity at present. The route has also dangerous curves which create headaches to even experienced drivers. Accidents are also a routine affair on this stretch. Most of the vehicles will take Chamravattom route if it has improved. It will reduce the traffic clogging and heavy traffic on NH 66 automatically and result in a decline of accidents and deaths.