Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Meets Nitin Gadkari to Discuss National Highway 66 Development Progress

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan recently met with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi. The meeting, attended by State Public Works and Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas, focused on the progress of national highway development in Kerala. Discussions were held at Gadkari's residential office on Akbar Road.

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The primary focus was on National Highway 66, which stretches from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. This highway is being expanded into a six-lane road with a width of 45 metres. Riyas expressed optimism that the majority of this project would be completed by December 2025, marking a significant milestone for Malayalees worldwide.

Highway Development and Funding

Minister Riyas highlighted that the current government led by Vijayan played a crucial role in reviving this stalled project. For the first time, a state arranged funds for land acquisition for national highway development and transferred them to the central government. So far, Rs 5,580 crore has been spent on this initiative.

Weekly reviews are conducted to monitor the construction progress of National Highway 66. During the meeting, Chief Minister Vijayan presented long-term road development plans, including proposals for 17 roads with a 20-year vision. The Union Minister responded positively to these proposals.

Future Road Projects and Approvals

The Chief Minister urged the central government to allocate more projects for Kerala's future road development. He assured that matters related to land acquisition and highway development would be finalised in the state cabinet meeting. The Union Minister assured approval for revised alignments of seven delayed projects due to various reasons.

These seven projects cover a total length of 460 kilometres. Additionally, Gadkari approved the development of the Punalur Bypass, which experiences heavy traffic congestion during the Sabarimala season. The meeting also decided to initiate steps for constructing a nine-kilometre elevated road to Kozhikode airport.

Airport Connectivity Enhancements

Discussions included plans to develop the road leading to Kannur airport. These initiatives aim to improve connectivity and ease traffic flow in key areas. The state government is committed to ensuring that these projects are completed efficiently and within the stipulated timelines.

The meeting between Kerala's Chief Minister and the Union Minister marks a significant step towards enhancing infrastructure in the state. With approvals secured for several key projects, Kerala is set to witness substantial improvements in its road network in the coming years.