Demand to give proper entry and exit points to NH near Calicut varsity campus

Students and those visiting the University of Calicut at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district are being put to hardship after the development of the national highway abutting the campus because of the lack of proper entry or exit points nearby.

According to sources, there are only two exit points from the western side of the highway at present, which are at least 6 km away from each other. For vehicles coming from the Thrissur side, the exit point is between Velimukku and Padikkal bus stops. The next exit point is further north, the one to go to the Calicut International Airport. This means that vehicles coming from the southern side of the university will have to traverse at least 5 km by the side road to reach the campus. Also, those who return from the campus to go to the northern side such as Kozhikode will find no entry point to the highway nearby as well.

People who travel by the route claim that during peak hours, traffic blocks are a regular phenomenon on service roads, making it difficult for office-goers and students to reach their destinations in time.

In this context, a demand has been made to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to sanction an exit to the side road near the teachers’ hostel located at Kohinoor. This will help vehicles going to the airport exit by the university overbridge, says a section of the university staff. An entry point should be sanctioned at Chettiyarmadu as well.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran told The Hindu on Tuesday that a large number of students reach the university every day for their various needs, and right now, it is difficult for those who come from the Thrissur or Valanchery side to enter the campus. “Because the available entry to the university is 4 or 5 km away, and there are no indicators either. There is enough scope for an exit point from the highway near the university,” he said.

Mr. Raveendran said varsity officials had been in touch with NHAI officials. Though some promises were made earlier, they were yet to be materialised. “They said they would come again, but that has not happened so far. It will be in the interest of the student community, the staff and local residents to have an exit point from the highway near the campus,” he added.