Thirteen National Highways (NH) projects were unveiled on December 15 by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, providing a significant boost to Kerala's road infrastructure.

These Rs 455.36 billion projects include the country's longest 6-lane flyover and the development of 544 km of highways in the state.

The longest 6-lane flyover in the country, stretching 13 km from Aroor to Thuravoor Thekku on NH-66, would allow for faster and more convenient connectivity between Kerala and Karnataka while also lowering transportation costs.

It would stimulate wide economic growth in Kerala's districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram.

The elevated corridor project is part of the NH-66 six-laning project and is being carried out under the Bharatmala Pariyojana in the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode.

The contract for the construction of the longest flyover has been granted to Ashok Buildcon of Nashik, Maharashtra, for Rs 16.68 billion, with completion due in the next two years.

The longest elevated roadway now in use is the 11.6 km PVNR Expressway, which connects the Hyderabad International Airport to the city of Mehdipatnam.

Almost all of the highway work in the state has been granted, and the wider highway is expected to be completed in three years.

The first stone was placed for 12 projects ranging from Azhiyur to Edapally and Aroor to Kazhakuttam. This bundle includes only the 6-lane flyover from Aroor to Thuravoor.

These developments will help the major and minor ports of Azhikkal, Beypore, Cochin, and Kollam, as well as the under-construction Vizhinjam International Seaport, flourish.

Also Read
Construction begins for Surat multi-modal transport hub
NTPC hopes to commission Telangana STTP by fiscal year-end