The Centre has assured Kerala that urgent steps will be taken to address delays affecting the development of National Highway-66 and accelerate the ongoing construction works, Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said.
Satheesan made the statement after meeting Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to review major road and infrastructure projects in the state. The discussions covered NH-66, NH-966 and the Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road, among other projects.
The Kerala stretch of NH-66 runs for around 645 km, connecting Thalapady near the Karnataka border with Karode near the Tamil Nadu border. The widening project is being developed as a major six-lane corridor along the state’s coastline.
According to the latest project assessment, several sections of the highway have made substantial progress, while some stretches continue to face delays. Around 85% of the work had been completed across seven key stretches as of August, with sections such as Kappirikadavu-Thalikulam, Thalikulam-Kodungallur and Kollam Bypass-Kadambattukonam nearing 95% completion.
The Taliparamba-Muzhuppilangad and Azhiyur-Vengalam stretches have progressed more slowly, with work reported at around 84% and 68%, respectively. Material shortages, labour constraints and monsoon conditions have been among the factors affecting construction progress.
The availability of construction materials has emerged as a particular concern. Contractors have been depending on Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for rock aggregate and earth, while restrictions on the movement of rock aggregate from Tamil Nadu have affected supplies and construction activity in Kerala.
Labour shortages have also slowed work at some locations. NHAI officials have pointed to a shortage of migrant workers, while local protests over demands for underpasses have affected construction at certain sites.
Structural issues at some locations have added to the challenges. Inadequate drainage and water seepage have contributed to failures involving retaining walls, while deficiencies in geotechnical investigations and earth-wall designs have also been identified. NHAI has undertaken corrective measures based on recommendations from an expert committee.
The Centre has also assured Kerala of further action on the proposed NH-966 Kozhikode-Palakkad project. Satheesan said approval for the project would be granted within three months, while around 80% of the land required for the project has already been acquired.
The Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road was also reviewed during the meeting. The discussions are part of efforts by the Centre and Kerala government to address pending issues and accelerate major highway and road infrastructure projects in the state.
The Kerala stretch of NH-66 is currently targeted for completion by 2028, with road works expected to be completed by April 2027 and viaduct construction requiring an additional year.
