Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for eight national highway projects in Kerala on 13 October 2020.
The Minister dedicated to the nation, a four-lane Thiruvananthapuram Bypass from Kazhakuttom to Mukkola on NH-66 (old NH-47) with a road length of 26.50 km entailing an investment of Rs 1,120.86 crore.
Apart from this, the foundation stone was laid for seven projects entailing a total investment of Rs 11,571.23 crore. These included six-laning of Thalapady 17.200 km to Changala 57.200 km of NH-66 (old NH-17) with a road length of 39 km entailing an investment of Rs 1,981.07 crore, six-laning of Changala 57.200 km to Neleshwaram 95.650 km of NH-66 (old NH-17), six-laning of Neleshwaram town to Thalipparamba 96.450 km to 137.900 km NH-66 (old NH-17) with a total cost of Rs 3,041.65 crore with a road length of 40.11 km.
The remaining road projects include six-laning of Neleshwaram town to Thalipparamba 96.450 km to 137.900 km on NH-66 (old NH-17) entailing an investment of Rs 210.21 crore with a road length of 2.1 km, six-laning of Kozhikode Bypass 230.400 km to 258.800 km NH-66 (old NH-17) worth Rs 1,853.42 crore with a road length of 28.4 km and construction of a high-level bridge over Cheruthoni River at 32.500 km on NH-185 worth Rs 23.83 crore and a road length of 0.30 km.
A total of 35,000 km national highways are being developed as part of Bharatmala Pariyojana in the country. Out of these, 1,234 km are being developed in Kerala.
In addition, 119 km port connectivity roads are planned to upgrade under Bharatmala/Sagarmala scheme.
The Mumbai-Kanyakumari Economic Corridor with a length of 1,760 km is one such corridor being developed as part of Bharatmala Pariyojana.
The corridor improving connectivity to the entire western coast of the country from Mumbai till Kanyakumari will greatly enable economic prosperity of the region.
As part of the Mumbai-Kanyakumari Economic Corridor, 23 projects with a length of 650 km are being developed at an investment of Rs 50,000 crore.
The works have been sanctioned and construction is being initiated in another seven projects of length 177 km at an investment of Rs 11,571 crore. It includes construction of a high-level bridge at Cheruthoni River, which was completely washed off due to natural calamities during the southwest monsoon season from 1 June to 19 August 2018.
Works costing Rs 19,800 crore are targeted for completion by 2024, while 30 projects of an aggregate length of 549 km for an amount of Rs 5,327 crore are under implementation.