📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Rajeshodayanchal
Travel
Kerala’s 769‑km Vizhinjam‑Kasaragod trek exposes crumbling infrastructure
✍️ Livemint
🗓 17 Sep 2026, 03:02 AM
👁 6
A 769‑kilometre drive from the southern port of Vizhinjam to Kasaragod in the north revealed widespread road, bridge and utility failures across Kerala.
A journalist embarked on a 769‑kilometre road trip from Vizhinjam, the newly commissioned deep‑water port in Kerala’s south, to Kasaragod at the state’s northern tip. The purpose was to assess the condition of the state’s transport and civic infrastructure that supports both local commuters and interstate traffic.
The journey highlighted a patchwork of deteriorating highways, unevenly maintained bridges and frequent water‑logging on arterial roads, especially during the monsoon months. Several stretches required temporary speed restrictions, and some rural links were reported to be impassable after heavy rains, forcing detours that added hours to travel time.
Experts cited in the Livemint report argue that delayed funding, fragmented project execution and inadequate oversight have compounded the problems. The findings underscore the urgency for coordinated upgrades, particularly as Kerala seeks to boost tourism and trade through its coastal corridors.
State officials have acknowledged the gaps and promised accelerated work on key projects, but the on‑ground reality captured during the trek suggests that substantial investment and better project management are needed before the state can claim a seamless north‑south connectivity.
The journey highlighted a patchwork of deteriorating highways, unevenly maintained bridges and frequent water‑logging on arterial roads, especially during the monsoon months. Several stretches required temporary speed restrictions, and some rural links were reported to be impassable after heavy rains, forcing detours that added hours to travel time.
Experts cited in the Livemint report argue that delayed funding, fragmented project execution and inadequate oversight have compounded the problems. The findings underscore the urgency for coordinated upgrades, particularly as Kerala seeks to boost tourism and trade through its coastal corridors.
State officials have acknowledged the gaps and promised accelerated work on key projects, but the on‑ground reality captured during the trek suggests that substantial investment and better project management are needed before the state can claim a seamless north‑south connectivity.