NHAI yet to approve street lighting proposal
SMART CITIES

NHAI yet to approve street lighting proposal

The city corporation, in partnership with the Smart City project, has plans to install streetlights along the NH-66 corridor between Kazhakkoottam and Kovalam to enhance safety for residents and commuters. However, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has not yet received a formal proposal for the project. Despite this, NHAI has indicated its willingness to approve the initiative if the plans are feasible.

Under the Smart City initiative, streetlights have already been installed on the Karamana-Pravachambalam stretch, addressing long-standing demands from local residents. Encouraged by this success, authorities are exploring the extension of similar infrastructure to the 26-km Kazhakkoottam-Mukkola stretch, which is a key route lined with IT hubs, educational institutions, shopping malls, and residential areas.

An official from NHAI explained that the highway authority is open to approving the project but has not been formally contacted. The official mentioned that they had only learned about the initiative through media reports and stated that approval would be granted once a detailed and feasible proposal is submitted, provided the city corporation or Smart City project assumes responsibility for maintenance.

Previously, the city corporation proposed installing 120 light poles equipped with advertising provisions along the stretch from Technopark Phase-III to Mukkola. However, NHAI rejected the proposal, citing its policy against advertising hoardings. In response, the corporation presented a revised plan with two options: installing 1,100 double-armed streetlight poles along the highway median at 20-meter intervals or erecting 2,200 single-arm streetlights on either side of the stretch. The updated proposal also includes a 10-year revenue-sharing model to ensure financial sustainability. Despite these revisions, NHAI has yet to make a final decision.

The Kazhakkoottam-Mukkola stretch is a critical transit corridor linking key locations such as the Vizhinjam International Container Terminal, Technopark, and the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

The city corporation, in partnership with the Smart City project, has plans to install streetlights along the NH-66 corridor between Kazhakkoottam and Kovalam to enhance safety for residents and commuters. However, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has not yet received a formal proposal for the project. Despite this, NHAI has indicated its willingness to approve the initiative if the plans are feasible.Under the Smart City initiative, streetlights have already been installed on the Karamana-Pravachambalam stretch, addressing long-standing demands from local residents. Encouraged by this success, authorities are exploring the extension of similar infrastructure to the 26-km Kazhakkoottam-Mukkola stretch, which is a key route lined with IT hubs, educational institutions, shopping malls, and residential areas.An official from NHAI explained that the highway authority is open to approving the project but has not been formally contacted. The official mentioned that they had only learned about the initiative through media reports and stated that approval would be granted once a detailed and feasible proposal is submitted, provided the city corporation or Smart City project assumes responsibility for maintenance.Previously, the city corporation proposed installing 120 light poles equipped with advertising provisions along the stretch from Technopark Phase-III to Mukkola. However, NHAI rejected the proposal, citing its policy against advertising hoardings. In response, the corporation presented a revised plan with two options: installing 1,100 double-armed streetlight poles along the highway median at 20-meter intervals or erecting 2,200 single-arm streetlights on either side of the stretch. The updated proposal also includes a 10-year revenue-sharing model to ensure financial sustainability. Despite these revisions, NHAI has yet to make a final decision.The Kazhakkoottam-Mukkola stretch is a critical transit corridor linking key locations such as the Vizhinjam International Container Terminal, Technopark, and the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

Next Story
Technology

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?