Kozhikode, which braved odds to combat the Nipah outbreak and the devastating floods last year, witnessed the implementation of several multi-crore projects. And it has high expectations of securing more projects this year.
One of the major projects is the ₹120-crore superspecialty hospital envisaged under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) on the Kozhikode Medical College campus. After the Nipah outbreak, the government decided to expand facilities at the existing virology laboratory with the assistance of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The opening of the ₹45-crore Tertiary Cancer Centre (TCC) at the medical college hospital is a relief for cancer patients in north Kerala.
Flyovers
The opening of flyovers at Thondayad and Ramanattukara junctions towards the fag end of the previous year has, to a certain extent, eased the traffic on the Kozhikode bypass.
However, the new year will see the beginning of the works for converting the 28.8-km bypass into a six-lane carriageway. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has awarded the contract to a Hyderabad-based firm for ₹1,710 crore.
Another much-awaited project is the development of the Kozhikode railway station for which the Ministry of Railways has cleared the proposal for ₹75 crore under the two-stage Swiss Challenge Method. Air passengers of Kozhikode, Malappuram and parts of Wayanad are eagerly looking for the operation of wide-bodied aircraft by Air India at the Calicut airport. In December, Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) resumed its operation after a three-year ban on jumbo jets assigned under Code E. It is expected the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will give approval to the Dubai-based Emirates to operate big aircraft. The restoration of Haj embarkation point to the Calicut airport this year will benefit thousands of pilgrims from Malabar. The embarkation point for Haj pilgrims from Kerala and Lakshadweep had been shifted to Kochi in 2015 after the airport was partially closed for almost two years to strengthen and re-carpet the runway. From 2019, more flights will begin to operate both in the domestic and international sectors. Already, Dubai-based flydubai has announced the launch of direct flights, three times a week, to Kozhikode beginning February 1.
The opening of the new international terminal at the Calicut airport, possibly in January, will provide more facilities to passengers. The new international arrival block will have 20 customs counters and emigration counters and about 5,000 people can be accommodated at a time.