NH-66: Nine months needed to complete viaduct

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The construction work of National Highway 66 has been accelerated taking advantage of the situation where the rains have stopped. The government and the National Highways Authority are concerned that matters will get worse if there is heavy rain in late July and August like in previous years. At the same time, further steps will be taken after observing whether the construction in the reaches, where complaints of unscientific construction were raised, will survive the monsoon.

The road collapsed on a large scale in the Kooriyad section of Malappuram district, which falls under the Ramanattukara-Valancherry reach. The setback came when the construction was 95% complete. It is estimated that Rs 80 crore will be required to build a 360-meter-long viaduct in the field area here. The current road will have to be completely removed for this.

It will take at least three months to remove the existing road and soil from the flooded area. A place must also be found to deposit the removed stones and soil. It will take at least nine months to study the soil, construct the pillars by piling, and prepare the bridge. If the weather is adverse, it will take even longer. Construction problems in Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts also need to be resolved.

The contract period for many reaches was extended after the development of the national highway, which was started with the aim of making it fully trafficable by March 2026, slowed down. This was followed by construction lapses. The completion schedule for the reaches with serious problems will be revised again. Major construction work such as foot-over bridges, flyovers, viaducts, underpasses, etc. is still pending in many reaches. In the reaches where work has reached the final stage, construction of canals, elimination of waterlogging, and other repairs are yet to be completed. According to the revised schedule last March, there are 12 reaches to be completed in June, November, and December this year and five reaches to be completed in March-June 2026. Construction has been completed in six reaches.