The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has officially opened the elevated highway at Kazhakootam to traffic, putting an end to the uncertainties. ]The authorities opened the elevated highway from Attinkuzhy, which is close to Technopark Phase-III, to the CSI Mission Hospital at Kazhakootam. NHAI representatives and the RDS Limited contractor were present to smash a coconut on the median at the Attinkuzhy side to officially open the longest four-lane elevated highway. Even though the 2.72km highway's construction was finished earlier, it wasn't inaugurated because the authorities wanted to hold a formal ceremony. However, drivers were permitted to access the elevated highway without a formal opening ceremony, providing them with much-needed relief at the congested Kazhakootam. Considering people's convenience, the NHAI decided to allow traffic movement on the highway without an inauguration. The official ceremony has been rescheduled for December 15. It will also give the NHAI enough time to complete the tarring of the service roads beneath the flyover. Because the safety audit had already been completed, we decided to open the road to the public. Meanwhile, we can finish the work beneath the flyover so that the official inauguration can take place after we finish everything, said NHAI project coordinator P Pradeep. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, will attend the inauguration. He will also lay the foundation stone for the state's other NH 66, which runs from Kazhakkootam to Kasaragod. The highway was supposed to open on November 1st. However, it then missed a number of deadlines. The dates were changed due to the union minister's absence, according to the NHAI. According to the Centre, the minister was preoccupied with the Gujarat assembly elections, so the NHAI changed the date from December 2. According to the revised schedule, the event will take place at Kariyavattom's Greenfield International Stadium. See also: Kazhakootam elevated highway project likely to miss completion deadlineKazhakoottam elevated highway to open by Nov-end