Maximum speed of 100 km/h; once completed, how long will the Thiruvananthapuram–Kasaragod drive take on NH66?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Authorities have stated that the construction of National Highway 66 is likely to be completed by the end of this year. The project, which is progressing rapidly across 19 stretches, is being opened to traffic as and when each section is completed. Once finished, the six-lane highway, built with a width of 45 meters, is expected to significantly contribute to Kerala's overall development.

Officials express hope that in addition to accelerating the state's development, the highway will help ease the severe traffic congestion caused by long queues of vehicles moving from south to north and vice versa. Authorities state that the maximum speed on the highway, which is expected to be completed by December 2025, will be around 100 kilometres per hour.

Out of the total length, construction on 580 kilometres of the highway has already been completed. The work to upgrade 644 kilometres of NH-66—from Thalappady in Kasaragod district to Mukkola in Thiruvananthapuram—is currently underway. Four sections of the highway are expected to be opened for traffic within a month. Construction works on more than 60% of the remaining stretches have already been completed, according to reports.

Once the highway is fully operational, the travel time between Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi is expected to come down to under three hours, compared to the current travel time of around six hours. At the same time, travelling the full length from Mukkola in Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Thalappady in Kasaragod in the north can take up to nine and a half hours. Covering the 210 km distance between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram currently takes five to six hours, or even more if traffic congestion is severe.