Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari informed him that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would complete the entire length of NH-66 bisecting Kerala by December. The leaders met in New Delhi on Friday. Mr. Vijayan said he explained the efforts the State has taken to expedite the completion of NH-66.
He said Mr. Gadkari would summon a meeting of NHAI contractors and Kerala Public Works department officials, including PWD Minister Mohamed Riyaz, to expedite the ongoing work. “Mr. Gadkari promised he would come to Kerala to inspect the NH-66 work’s progress,” he said.
Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Gadkari hoped the Centre and State could inaugurate the completed NH-66 segments in January. The ₹237 crore Kerala owed to the Centre for land acquisition for NH-66 was waived.
Mr. Gadkari told Mr. Vijayan that the NHAI would commence work on the proposed Palakkad-Kozhikode greenfield highway and Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road in January. Mr. Gadkari directed NHAI officials to begin work on the Kollam-Shencotta greenfield road as part of a one-time improvement project. The NHAI will also commence work on the Ernakulam bypass in January. The Union Minister also promised to expedite the sanction for the Punalur bypass and the Idamon-Kollam road.
Published – October 10, 2025 03:52 pm IST
