In a major relief to residents affected by the national highway (NH) development, the Centre has given its nod to construct five new foot overbridges in the district. The facilities will be set up at the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) Junction, Adkathbail, Nullipady, Mogralputhur Kunnil, and Manjeshwar Posoat.
The sanction, officially confirmed on Saturday (February 21, 2026), followed sustained interventions by elected representatives and prolonged protests by local action committees demanding safe pedestrian crossings in areas left isolated after the highway widening.
At Adkathbail, where recurring accidents and fatalities had raised serious concern, the sanction has come as a major relief. The Adkathbail Sree Subrahmanya Temple Committee and the Muhiyudheen Jamaath Committee had formed a joint action committee and met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to press for a safe crossing. He had assured action, and the commitment has now been fulfilled.
A foot overbridge has also been sanctioned at the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) junction, with the demand gaining momentum after farmers faced travel hardship while attending the Kisan Samman Conference in October 2022.
