Vadakkencherry: The pending construction works that were intended to be completed after the initiation of toll collection on the Vadakkencherry-Mannuthy six-lane national highway remain incomplete. More than 30 construction works, including critical safety measures, still remain stagnant.

When the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) granted permission to Thrissur Expressway Limited to start toll collection on March 9, 2022, there were 42 works pending. The company was instructed to complete these within 90 days. However, so far, only less than 10 of these tasks have been finished.

Commuters are facing burdens

Despite the fact that several works were left unfinished, the NHAI finally issued the completion certificate for the highway on June 14, 2024. Although the authority has imposed penalties on the concessionaire for the delay, it is the travelers who bear the burden.

Moreover, the toll rates at Panniyankara on this six-lane stretch are reportedly higher than those at nearby locations like Walayar and Paliyekkara.

Major pending works:

• Implement safety measures to prevent landslides along the steep roadside slopes.

• Complete the construction of the service road.

• Ensure proper safety measures at junctions where local roads merge with the national highway.

• Build bus bays at 21 designated spots.

• Provide parking spaces for lorries at three locations.

• Construct proper drainage channels.

• Install street lights along the entire stretch.

Although the NHAI officials have confirmed that steps are underway to arrange lorry parking areas, they stated that no clear decisions have been made yet regarding the other pending works.