NH 66 widening work in Kanniyakumari expected to be completed by April 2026

Commuters travelling from Kanniyakumari to Kerala may have to wait for another year for the congestion to end as the widening of the National Highway (NH) 66 into a four-lane road in Kanniyakumari district has been proposed to be completed by April 2026.

The existing two-lane road connecting Tamil Nadu and Kerala through Nagercoil is congested and is ridden with potholes. However, after the inauguration of Karamana-Kaliyakkavilai stretch about a year-and-a-half ago, commuters heading to NH 66 began taking diversion at Kaliyakkavilai junction, offering significant relief to airport travellers and those heading westward.

However, the work in Tamil Nadu came to a stand still after L&T Constructions ended the contract because of land acquisition hurdles and other issues. Subsequently, private firms from Kerala and Tamil Nadu acquired the contract for implementation of the project in Kanniyakumari. Of the 54-km stretch in Kanniyakumari, work on about 23 km remains incomplete.

The 54-km stretch from Kaliyakkavilai to Kanniyakumari passes through Thottiyodu, Putheri, AAPTA Market, Valukkamparai, and Kottaram. The stretch will feature 93 structures, including major bridges, minor bridges, light vehicular underpass, vehicular underpass, overpass-cum-aqueduct, box culvert, widening of existing box culvert, an overbridge and a skywalk.

According to a National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) official, 54 of these structures have been completed.

A. Wins Anto, an activist from the region, said that apart from the completion of the project, officials should expedite work near Palliayadi, where the construction had been obstructing the waterflow in Pattanam canal, a vital irrigation source for nearly 15,000 acres of farmland.

Sekar from Nagercoil, who runs a logistics business, emphasised the timely completion of the four-lane stretch that would benefit daily commuters and significant number of people relying on the stretch for access to medical facilities and airport in Thiruvananthapuram.

Supply constraints

An official from NHAI’s Project Department said that lack of cooperation from the State government had delayed the progress.

The official said transportation of construction material, including soil and gravel sourced within the State, were being delayed for various reasons. “Timely acquisition of material will help us complete the project on schedule,” the official said.