Kottiyoor
Grama Panchayat

A delegation led by Minister Sunny Joseph and Mananthavady MLA Usha Vijayan will meet Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan today to request the appointment of a user agency for the construction of the Kottiyoor-Ambayathode-Thalappuzha 44th Mile road, which connects Wayanad and Kannur districts without traversing a mountain pass. The meeting is scheduled to take place at Kannur Airport. The delegation includes Mananthavady Block Panchayat President Meenakshi Raman, Peravoor Block Panchayat President Indira Sreedharan, Kannur District Panchayat member Jaison Karakkat, Peravoor Block Panchayat Vice President Baiju Varghese, Panchayat Association State Secretary and Kelakam Panchayat President Lissy Joseph, Thavinjal Panchayat President M.G. Biju, Kottiyoor Panchayat President Cicily Kannanthanam, Kanichar Panchayat President Dr. Thresya Paul, and Kottiyoor Panchayat Vice President Roy Nambudakam. Later in the afternoon, discussions regarding this matter will also be held with the Forest Minister at Valayamchal. This decision was reached during a meeting held yesterday at the Kottiyoor Panchayat Hall, attended by elected representatives, political party representatives, and members of various organizations from both Kannur and Wayanad districts. A broad-based committee has been formed to facilitate the construction of a non-ghat road connecting Kottiyoor-Ambayathode and Thalapuzha-44th Mile; Minister Sunny Joseph serves as the chairman, while Mananthavady MLA Usha Vijayan acts as the convener. The committee comprises representatives from various political parties and organizations. Minister Sunny Joseph inaugurated the meeting held yesterday, which was presided over by MLA Usha Vijayan. Former Kappad Panchayat President Georgekutty Mukkadan, former Kottiyoor Panchayat President P.C. Ramakrishnan, and former Vice President P. Thankappan were among those who addressed the gathering.

Minister Sunny Joseph stated that the proposal for the Kottiyoor-Ambayathode-Thalapuzha-44th Mile non-ghat road has been presented to the Cabinet. He has also discussed the matter with the Minister for Public Works. To realize the project, a 'user agency' authorized to undertake the construction must be appointed, and deliberations regarding this are currently underway. Beyond existing routes, a safer road is essential to ensure connectivity to and from Kannur Airport and Kannur district. Additional roads are also required to facilitate the rapid delivery of aid and rescue operations during natural disasters in either district. Relying solely on ghat roads is no longer sustainable, and the traffic congestion experienced during the Kottiyoor festival season also needs to be addressed. Moreover, a smooth route between the two districts is essential for the efficient functioning of the Kannur Airport. A full-fledged four-lane road connecting the districts is required, particularly to facilitate freight transport. In addition to the existing ghat roads, this new route would strengthen connectivity between the districts and accelerate development in the highland regions. It is in light of these factors that the demand for this road is being raised. The previously existing Kottiyoor-Ambayathode-Thalappuzha-44th Mile road—which had been leased to the Kottiyoor Panchayat—remains closed due to the intervention of the Forest Department; reopening it would completely resolve the crisis. The Minister emphasized that a smooth transport route is vital for the comprehensive development of both Kannur and Wayanad districts.