Congestion continues on Thamarassery Ghat Road

The Thamarassery Ghat section of the Kozhikode-Wayanad National Highway (NH 766) continues to witness frequent traffic bottlenecks. On Sunday, January 11, 2026, although there was no major traffic congestion as in previous days, traffic congestion was reported in the morning and evening hours.

A day ago, there was a heavy traffic jam on the Ghat road due to vehicles breaking down at the eighth and ninth hairpin bends. The situation was further aggravated by the heavy influx of visitors traveling to the hill region, including those heading for ‘Poopoli’, an international flower show organized by the Regional Agricultural Research Station at Ambalavayal.

Following the traffic disruptions, authorities temporarily halted timber removal and road widening works under a ₹37-crore project at hairpin bends six, seven and eight, providing relief to commuters. Previously, 400 trees were cut down on the bends within the scope of the project.

Strict traffic regulations have been in place in the Thamarassery ghat area since January 5 to facilitate timber removal and road widening. Multi-axle and other heavy vehicles are routed via Nadukani or Kuttiyadi ghat routes.

Widening of hairpin bends is expected to ease congestion in the ghat section as most traffic jams and accidents occur at these three narrow points. The works include widening the road, building sidewalks and installing guardrails. When completed, the road width will increase from 14.55 meters to 17.3 meters at the bend entrances and from 26.5 meters to 38.15 meters in the middle of the bend.