KOCHI: The religious tourism will get a boost in the central Kerala with the state government all set to begin work on an international standard road connecting Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, and ancient port town of Kodungallur in Thrissur in a month. The road will give direct access to pilgrims from other states to famous religious centres like Cheraman Juma Masjid, Kodungallur Temple, Azhikode Marthoma shrine and a slew of other temples, including Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple along the coastal line of central Kerala.The administrative sanction for the proposed road, which would be constructed by the Public Works Department with the assistance of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), has already been given, said T N Prathapan MLA.
A total outlay of Rs 21.75 crore has been set aside, of which Rs 9.75 crore would be spent in constructing 17 km of road passing through the Kodungallur constituency in Thrissur and Rs 12 crore for the road that passes through the three constituencies of Angamaly, Aluva and Kalamassery in Ernakulam district. The proposed road that connects two national highways (NH-47 and NH-17) and the airport would bring down the travel distance of passengers from Malappuram district to Nedumbassery by 12 km, which would be very helpful for the air passengers from coastal areas of Central Kerala.
Besides, the proposed road will provide direct access to pilgrim centres like Cheraman Juma Masjid, Muziris Heritage project sites, Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple, Kodungallur, Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple, Chettikadu Pilgrimage centre, Azhikode Marthoma Shrine, Thriprayar and Guruvayur temples along with a slew of tourism sites in the central Kerala, said the authorities.Though the official inauguration of the construction would be held next month, the work on widening the culverts and construction of small bridges along the proposed route has already begun in Thrissur district, said T N Pratapan.
The official inauguration of the construction works in Ernakulam district was held and the work would begin in full-swing soon, he added.
The proposed rubberised road will pass through the three panchayats of Eriyad, Mathilakom and Sree Narayanapuram in Thrissur district and four panchayats of Chendamangalam, Chittattukara, Vadakekkara and Pallippuram in Thrissur.
Besides, the CIAL director board meeting has given sanction for starting the second phase of the four-lane road connecting the airport with NH-47 at Athani for which a sum of Rs 30 crore has been sanctioned and the first phase of the work was completed by spending Rs 21.3 crore.
The second phase works include construction of a RoB which would cut short the travel distance to airport further by 1.5 km, said officials.