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Kannur riding on fast-paced growth

Mohamed Nazeer

Education, tourism are main growth areas

KANNUR: Kannur has come a long way from being known in the not too distant past for its weaving tradition, plywood industries and beedi making. It is now all set for fast-paced development in the educational, infrastructure and tourism sectors.

Substantial are the changes that Kannur has achieved on the development front over the last five decades, despite the equally visible infrastructure shortcomings that the district has been facing.

United stand

The district may be a hotbed of political rivalry, but there is no dearth of broad consensus across the political spectrum here when it comes to developmental issues.

A display of that consensus is nowhere more unambiguous than in exerting political pressure for making the longstanding proposal for an airport here a reality. The proposed Kannur airport, which is awaiting the Central Government's nod, is all set to accelerate the development of the entire North Malabar region.

The project that requires an initial capital investment of Rs.600 crore to Rs.1,000 crore will boost the industry and tourism sectors in the district. The airport project is expected to increase inflow of international tourists in the region and trigger greater growth of handloom exports from here. Kannur has already been bestowed with the status of the `Town of Export Excellence' by the Central Mi nstry of Commerce and Tra de, as its handloom exports crossed Rs.250 crore a year.

Naval academy

The district was in fact tipped for massive development after then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation stone for the Naval Academy project at Ezhimala here on January 17, 1987. The first phase of the Rs.500-crore project has already been completed with the commissioning of the INS Zamorin that serves as a depot base for the academy being developed.

The State Government has already made an investment of Rs.40 crores to launch various infrastructure facilities including roads, electricity and water supply scheme required for the academy. The project, once it becomes full-fledged, is also expected to give a facelift to the nearby town of Payyannur.

Education front

An educationally backward region, North Malabar has witnessed substantial development of the educational sector over the past decade.

The setting up of the Kannur University contributed to the growth of higher educational opportunities in the region where the rate of access to higher educational institutions is still far from satisfactory.

The university started with just two courses and 23 affiliated colleges 10 years ago now offers 30 courses in 20 academic departments and has over 60 affiliated colleges in Kannur and Kasaragod districts and Mananthavady taluk of the Wayanad district.

Infrastructure growth

The face of Kannur has changed beyond recognition over the last 50 years. Poor condition of roads and inadequate road facilities in the district draws attention to the need for rapid development of road infrastructure to cope with development of the region over the next couple of years. The proposed Thalassery-Mahe and Kannur bypass roads in the pipeline are seen as major road infrastructure projects here.

"We have to focus on building Infrastructure in the district, including the proposed airport, Azhikkal port and upgradation of the National Highway for accelerating the district's development,'' says A.P. Abdullakutty, MP representing Kannur.

The Mysore-Thalassery railway line is a long-term project in the pipeline, which will benefit the people of the entire region, he says. The Industrial infrastructure in the district will also witness major growth with the completion of the common facilities for the handloom and power-loom units being developed at Nadukani by KINFRA under the Textile Centre Infrastructure Development Scheme.

The proposed establishment of a centre of the National Institute of Fashion Technology and container freight station are projects in the pipeline that the handloom industry and exporters here give much store by.

Much has changed in the district over the years since the formation of the State. The beedi making industry here is on its death throes thanks to a variety of reasons, including anti-tobacco campaign.

Plywood industry is not without crisis though it is struggling to cope with it and the weaving tradition is on the wane even as handloom exports from here look forward to good prospects. All the problems in the district notwithstanding, the development scenario in the district has never been brighter.

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