Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Thalappady–Chengala stretch of National Highway-66, marking a major milestone in the expansion of India’s western coastal highway corridor. Developed at a project cost of ₹1,704.125 crore, the 39-kilometre six-lane highway strengthens connectivity in northern Kerala and forms a key component of the ongoing NH-66 upgradation programme in the state.
The project was constructed by the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) and is the first completed six-lane stretch among the 23 NH-66 sections currently being upgraded in Kerala. ULCCS also stands out as the only Kerala-based institution awarded a contract under the project.
Construction began in November 2021 and was completed in three years and nine months, with the stretch finished on August 25, 2025. The highway was subsequently taken over by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and opened for traffic on the same day.
Remeshan Palery, Chairman of ULCCS, described the inauguration as a proud moment for the cooperative organisation, stating that completing the first six-lane NH-66 stretch in Kerala reflects the dedication and engineering capabilities of its worker-members. He noted that the century-old cooperative remains committed to building infrastructure that strengthens connectivity and contributes to national development.
The project has already received national recognition. ULCCS was honoured with the National Highways Excellence Award 2023 from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for its timely execution and construction quality. The award was presented in New Delhi by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
In addition, the Thalappady–Chengala highway has been featured in the 2026 calendar of the National Highways Authority of India as one of the 12 best roads in the country, and it is the only road from Kerala included in the list.
One of the engineering highlights of the project is the longest single-pillar six-lane bridge with a box girder system in the country, located along this highway stretch.
Beyond engineering achievements, the project also incorporated several environmentally conscious measures. These included grafting and planting 500 saplings from a rare 40-year-old mango tree that had to be removed during road expansion, relocating a date palm tree near the Kumbla bridge, and transplanting a mango tree named “Payaswini,” originally planted by poet Sugathakumari.
In another instance reflecting environmental sensitivity, construction activities were paused for nearly 55 days after python eggs were discovered at the site, with work resuming only after the eggs had safely hatched.
The completion and inauguration of the Thalappady–Chengala stretch is expected to significantly enhance mobility along NH-66, improving the movement of people and goods while strengthening transport connectivity across India’s western coastal corridor.
