Kozhikode Flyover Survey Completed, Sarovaram Biopark Set for Elevated Road Link Faces Local Concerns
Kozhikode’s proposed flyover across Sarovaram Biopark has moved a step forward, with the Public Works Department completing its initial boundary survey to aid land acquisition. The 1-km project aims to connect Mini Bypass Road to National Highway 66, including a 400-metre elevated section over the Biopark to protect the Kottooli Wetlands. While the government asserts the project will cause minimal damage, early tensions have surfaced among local residents regarding land loss and alignment.
The ambitious flyover project under the Kozhikode City Road Improvement Project (KCRIP) is designed to enhance east-west connectivity without disrupting the ecological integrity of the Kottooli Wetlands. The alignment will span one kilometre, beginning near the Sarovaram Biopark junction at Gandhi Road and extending to Kottooli Post Office Junction at Panathuthazham. Of this, a 400-metre segment will be constructed as a flyover at least six metres above the Conolly Canal, minimising environmental disruption. According to infrastructure planners, this will be the first four-lane flyover under the KCRIP, with a 53.69-crore construction budget and an additional 21.78 crore allocated for land acquisition. Tentative boundary stones have already been laid to initiate the acquisition process, while the Revenue Department is preparing for a Social Impact Assessment. Authorities maintain that the design protects green zones and limits displacement to fewer than five residential structures—balancing urban development with ecological responsibility.
Despite the project’s wetland-conscious design, early resistance from local communities highlights the challenge of balancing infrastructure with resident concerns. Some residents attempted to halt the laying of boundary stones, prompting police presence to complete the task. Locals on either side of the canal have expressed apprehensions about property loss and insufficient clarity regarding compensation or rehabilitation. Experts suggest that effective community engagement and transparent environmental assurances are crucial at this stage to prevent further unrest. The planned road alignment, submitted to the Revenue Department, awaits final approvals before full-scale land acquisition begins. Once operational, the flyover is expected to ease congestion on the existing Mini Bypass and provide a crucial link between Kozhikode city and NH-66, reducing travel time and supporting smoother flow through Panathuthazham. With wetland safeguards incorporated into the design, planners assert that the development offers a model for sustainable urban expansion. Still, the test lies in how well community concerns are addressed moving forward.
As Kozhikode’s Sarovaram Biopark flyover inches toward execution, its promise of eco-sensitive infrastructure and minimal displacement is now under close scrutiny. While officials emphasise that the flyover will preserve the wetland ecosystem and require limited residential removal, early protests suggest that public trust remains fragile. The coming phases—particularly land acquisition and compensation rollout—will determine whether the project can proceed with both efficiency and fairness. For a city balancing rapid growth with environmental heritage, the Sarovaram project represents not just a logistical upgrade, but a test case in inclusive and sustainable urban development.
