With no allocation of funds for the Detailed Project Report and failed negotiations over land acquisitions, the multi-crore mobility hub proposed by the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) as a public-private partnership project between the Malaparamba and Thondayad junctions in Kozhikode city has lost momentum.
An earlier decision by the city corporation to appoint Kochi Metro Rail Limited to prepare a preliminary project report also failed to take off following the transfer of some senior officials from various government departments who initially took the lead and coordinated discussions.
MVD sources said that the objections raised by a few environmentalists over the land suggested for the project became a major bottleneck. They pointed out that such issues could have been easily resolved had the local administrators and relevant government departments held discussions.
The Kozhikode Regional Transport Office first proposed the project in 2012 as a scientific solution to address the city’s traffic congestion and the growing demand for better parking space. The ₹122-crore project was proposed with a vision to accommodate over 3,000 cars, 20,000 motorcycles, 200 buses, and 200 contract carriages. Upon completion, there were also plans to construct a multi-level car parking facility at the Palayam bus stand.
“A special working group had earlier been formed for the project’s implementation, which was approved by the State Cabinet and included in the State Budget in 2018. A special officer was also appointed,” said an MVD official who was previously part of the project team. He added that lukewarm responses from some private investors and the prolonged delay in securing about 20 acres of land were the main setbacks.
A Revenue department official who was initially involved in the project discussions said the 2018 Kerala floods and the subsequent emergency rehabilitation efforts in various affected districts forced the government to put several infrastructure development projects on hold. Unfortunately, the mobility hub was among them, he said, adding that a few other technical issues and the unexpected pandemic outbreaks further stalled its progress.
The innovative project, featuring advanced facilities such as a rooftop helipad, exhibition centres, food courts, luxury accommodations, cloakrooms, cinema theatres, and skywalks connecting six transport terminals, was proposed based on a scientific blueprint prepared by the National Institute of Technology-Calicut. It had also been deemed feasible by the District Administration and the District-level Road Safety Authority.
Published - February 10, 2025 06:56 pm IST
