THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The survey for land acquisition for the construction of Kadampattukonam-Shenkottai green field highway, which will be very helpful for and tourism development, has almost been completed. The highway is 59.360 km long from Kadampattukonam on the border of Kollam- Thiruvananthapuram districts to Aryankavu. It is parallel to Chenkotta-Thirumangalam national highway. The distance to Kollam will be reduced by ten kilometers.

More than 347 hectares of land is being acquired in both districts. The land acquisition notification in Thiruvananthapuram will be issued soon. Under the Bharathmala pariyojana project, the construction is being done in two reaches. The first reach is Aryankavu - Edamon (21 km). Edamon-Kadampattukonam (38 km) is the second reach. The National Highway Development Authority will bear 75 percent of the land acquisition cost and the state government will bear 25 percent.

Will connect main roads

Once the highway becomes a reality, it will be very helpful for freight transport to Vizhinjam port. It will also pave the way for tourism development. The circuit will connect centres like Thenmala Dam, Punalur suspension bridge, Anchal cave temple, Chadayamangalam Jadayuppara, Varkala Beach, Sivagiri and Chembazhanthi. It will also connect Kollam-Thirumangalam NH, MC Road, NH 544, proposed Vizhinjam-Navaikulam outer ring road and Kazhakoottam-Karode bypass will be connected. Around 20 junctions such as Navayikulam, Pallikal, Madavoor, Chadayamangalam, Manjapara, Kotukkal and Pathadi will be developed.

Greenfield Highway

59.360 km

45-meter width

30 m in forest area

Rs 1830.82 crore in cost of land acquisition

Rs 1798 crores in cost of construction