Nod for five foot overbridges in Kasaragod

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.

At Nullipady, near the Kasaragod new bus stand, residents had staged protests seeking an underpass and even approached the court when their demands remained unaddressed. However, after a site inspection and assessment by ULCCS officials led by MLA N.A. Nellikkunnu, approval was granted for a foot overbridge instead. The MLA had also announced sanction for a similar overbridge at Mogralputhur Kunnil to ease travel difficulties in the area.

In Manjeshwar Posoat, the approval of a foot overbridge is expected to ease severe difficulties faced by pedestrians. The newly sanctioned overbridges are expected to significantly improve safety and restore connectivity in the affected areas.