Nod to Kollam, Alappuzha bypass road in Kerala

On a cost-sharing basis between the Kerala and the Union governments, work on the Kollam and Alappuzha bypass of the NH 66 will be taken up on on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode. Tenders for the work were finalised by the National Highway wing of the Public Works Department (PWD). The road work is the first work to be taken up on 50:50 cost-sharing basis by the State and the Centre on the National Highway stretch in the country. The tenders are uploaded on the website. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the two NH bypass works, estimated to cost Rs 524 crore, will be signed next week. The Kerala government proposed the road work to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on cost-sharing mode to complete the much-delayed work. When the work completes motorists can skip the two cities-Kollam and Alappuzha while proceeding along the NH 66, say media reports.