Six-laning of NH 66 from Talapady to Karode to be completed by 2024

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the six-laning work of National Highway-66 is gathering pace in the state as the National Highway Authority confirmed agreement in 16 out of 20 reaches.

Around 600 kms of road, from Talapady in Kasaragod district to Karode in Thiruvananthapuram, would be six-laned as part of the project, he said in a Facebook post. "The National Highway Authority has confirmed agreement in 16 out of 20 reaches to speed up the work of the six-laning of the Panavel- Kanyakumari National Highway-66 in Kerala," Vijayan said. Noting that the state government would bear 25 per cent of the land acquisition expense, he said the land owners are given the best compensation as per the Land Acquisition Act 2013.

The ongoing distribution of compensation would be completed within six months in the state, the CM said adding that with the six laning of the National Highway-66, the road traffic in Kerala would become safer and more smooth.

The 50,000 crore road project will start from Panavel in the Raigad district near Mumbai and end at Kanyakumari. The road, which is being constructed parallel to the Konkan route, has a total of 20 reaches in Kerala. Construction of 631.8 km long six-lane road from Kasargod Thalappadi to Neyyattinkara Karode is expected to be completed by 2024.

Under the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, landlords receive double the amount of compensation. Distribution of compensation has started in Malabar, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. Compensation distribution will be completed within 6 months.

Benefit to Kerala

• The length of NH 66 ending at Kanyakumari is 1622 km.
• The longest route along the Goa-Karnataka Konkan coast is through Kerala
• Construction of the Mukkola-Karode Road will be completed by March 2022
• Steps have been taken to make the 4-lane Edappally-Aroor road 6-lane