PM Modi Inaugurates Rs 17.04 Bn NH-66 Stretch in Kerala

16 Mar 2026 CW Team

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Thalappady–Chengala stretch of National Highway 66 in Kerala, marking a key milestone in the upgradation of the western coastal highway corridor. Built at a cost of Rs 17.04 billion, the 39-km six-lane highway strengthens connectivity in northern Kerala and forms part of the larger NH-66 expansion programme in the state.

The project was executed by Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) and is the first among the 23 NH-66 stretches in Kerala to be completed. Construction began in November 2021 and was completed in August 2025, after which the stretch was handed over to the National Highways Authority of India and opened to traffic. ULCCS is the only Kerala-based organisation to have secured a contract for the NH-66 upgrade programme.

The highway includes notable engineering features such as the country’s longest single-pillar six-lane bridge built using a box girder system. The project was also recognised with the National Highways Excellence Award 2023 from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

During construction, ULCCS incorporated several environmental initiatives including transplanting mature trees and planting saplings from a rare 40-year-old mango tree. Work at the site was also temporarily paused for nearly 55 days to allow the safe hatching of python eggs discovered during construction.

The completion of the Thalappady–Chengala stretch is expected to improve traffic movement along NH-66 and enhance the transportation of goods and passengers along India’s western coastal corridor.

Infrastructure Transport

25 Apr 2026

Sector 51-52 Metro skywalk in Noida remains shut despite being ready for over a year

Thousands of commuters travelling between Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) Sector 52 station and Noida Metro Rail Corporation’s (NMRC) Sector 51 station continue to face daily inconvenience as the 300-metre air-conditioned skywalk connecting the two stations remains closed, despite being completed over a year ago, according to a report.The Noida Metro Rail Corporation built the foot overbridge to enable a seamless interchange between the Delhi Metro and Noida Metro networks. However, pending finishing work and a structural obstruction have delayed its opening.Krishna Karunesh, Chief E..

Maharashtra clears Metro Line 5A, expansion of Mumbai Metro Line 5

The Maharashtra government has approved the expansion of Mumbai Metro Line 5 along with a new integrated corridor, Metro Line 5A, forming a combined 34.2-km metro network across the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan-Ulhasnagar belt. The integrated project has been cleared at an estimated cost of ₹18,130.55 crore, according to a government resolution (GR).Metro Line 5 was originally approved in October 2017 as a 24.9-km fully elevated corridor with 17 stations connecting Thane, Bhiwandi and Kalyan, with an initial project cost of ₹8,416.51 crore. The corridor is being developed in two phases.The first ..

Bengaluru Metro expansion seen driving office demand

Bengaluru’s expanding metro network is expected to emerge as a major catalyst for real estate growth, with the Yellow and Pink Lines likely to boost both office demand and residential prices across key micro-markets, according to a report by Colliers India.The report estimates that over the next two years, Bengaluru could witness an additional 5–7 million sq ft of Grade A office space demand across the Central Business District (CBD), Secondary Business District (SBD) and Electronic City. Improved metro connectivity and reduced commute times are expected to drive higher occupier interest a..