Enforcement lapse blamed as risky behaviour resurfaces on six-lane corridor
KOZHIKODE: Abrupt lane changes, indiscriminate overtaking and the illegal entry of private buses are once again putting road users at risk on the newly widened National Highway 66 in Kozhikode district, according to a recent report. Locals and road operators say spot enforcement and patrols that once kept traffic disciplined have declined, allowing dangerous practices to resurface on the six-lane highway.
Motorists and commuters say the rightmost lane, designed as an overtaking lane, is increasingly being used as a cruising lane by many drivers. Heavy vehicles are reportedly violating posted speed limits near entry and exit points connected to the high-speed corridor, but these breaches often go undetected in the absence of active monitoring.
Passengers and nearby workers cited the illegal entry of private buses into stretches where such vehicles are prohibited as a major safety concern for light motor vehicles. A frequent commuter and employee near the Pantheerankavu toll plaza, C.P. Vineeth, noted that highway squads used to patrol regularly to deter illegal parking; with surveillance declining, several stretches have turned into ad hoc parking zones that endanger fast-moving traffic.
"A few months ago, highway squads conducted regular patrols to detect illegal parking along the highway. With surveillance declining, several stretches have turned into illegal parking spots, endangering other vehicles travelling at high speeds," Vineeth said.
A retired traffic police officer who travels frequently between Kozhikode and Kannur told reporters that many drivers remain unfamiliar with the rules specific to the six-lane configuration. Sudden lane changes, illegal overtaking and speed-limit violations are now the most pressing life‑threatening problems on the renovated road, he said.
Delays in clearing broken-down vehicles and accident debris are compounding risk. Recovery van operator Gopinath Pulikkal pointed out that no accident helpline numbers are displayed along the highway to assist stranded motorists. According to him, many people wait for hours for assistance because local authorities have not granted permission to display helpline numbers at points where they would be visible to road users.
- Right-lane misuse: Overtaking lane used for cruising, increasing crossing and merging conflicts.
- Illegal parking: Stretches used as ad hoc parking spots after patrols dwindled.
- Private buses: Illegally entering prohibited stretches, endangering light vehicles.
- Broken-down vehicles: Slow removal and absence of visible helpline numbers prolong risks for other road users.
| Issue | Reported effect on road safety |
|---|---|
| Right-lane cruising | Unexpected slow vehicles in overtaking lane cause abrupt lane changes and collisions |
| Illegal parking | Obstructions on high-speed stretches increase crash likelihood |
| Speed violations by heavy vehicles | Risk to light motor vehicles during merging and at entry/exit points |
The recovery-van operator added that the Koyilandy–Vadakara stretch continues to see unchecked parking of heavy goods vehicles, a problem residents have reportedly raised with drivers. When challenged, drivers allegedly blame the authorities for not providing dedicated parking facilities for inter-State vehicles.
Traffic-safety experts and local commuters interviewed for the report called for a combination of sustained enforcement, better signage and the rapid display of emergency helpline numbers along the corridor. Many also urged resumption of regular highway squad patrols and the installation of automated monitoring systems at critical points to detect speed violations and illegal movements.
In the absence of immediate remedial action, residents fear the widened highway’s potential to improve connectivity and travel times could be undermined by rising accident risk and growing non-compliance with road safety norms. Local representatives and transport authorities have not been quoted on whether extra patrols or infrastructural fixes are planned; the report recommends clear, time-bound steps to reduce the hazards now evident on the Kozhikode stretch of NH 66.
As the six-lane corridor becomes a key arterial route for commuters and commercial traffic, road users said restoring visible, sustained enforcement and quick-response mechanisms should be a priority to protect lives while preserving the benefits of the upgrade.
