NHAI to appoint new consultancy to fast-track NH 183 expansion

In a major boost to the National Highway (NH) 183 development project, which is expected to play a key role in the overall growth of the central Travancore region, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will soon appoint a new consultancy to widen and upgrade the stretch from Chengannur to Mundakayam via Kottayam.

Confirming the move, Kottayam MP Francis George said here on Saturday that the information was conveyed to him by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during a meeting on the progress of the new bypass construction starting from Mulankuzha in Kottayam. Previously, the National Highway division had planned to complete the project in three sections: Chengannur to Kottayam town, Kottayam town to Chenkalpally, and Chenkalpally to Mundakayam.

“The existing consultancy had only conducted surveys and prepared designs for the second section. No work had been done for the first and third sections. Following this, tender procedures were initiated to appoint a new consultancy to carry out surveys for these sections,” explained Mr. George.

Blueprint for bypass

The newly appointed consultancy has also prepared a blueprint for a bypass starting from Mulankuzha and ending at Mannathippara, taking into account traffic conditions in Kottayam town and the challenges of widening roads within the city.

As per the new decision, all previous work will be reassessed and finalised by the new consultancy. The move comes after the earlier agency, appointed in 2016, failed to complete the assigned work within the stipulated timeframe.

Mr. George added that the new consultancy will be given a definite timeline to complete the project, ensuring no indefinite delays. During his meeting with the Minister, the MP also stressed the need to prevent a recurrence of the uncertainty witnessed in the NH development projects from 2016 to 2025. He further requested that a meeting be held with local elected representatives and relevant officials from each Assembly constituency to reach a consensus before finalising the revised alignment.

Land acquisition

The NHAI has already issued notifications for land acquisition required to widen the first phase of the highway, which runs from the Kollam bypass to Anjilimoodu, near Chengannur, to 24 m.

The first phase spans 54 km and involves constructing a four-lane road with a 15-m-wide carriageway, 1.5-m central divider, 1.5-m footpath, 2-m shoulder pavements and 0.5-m utility ducts. The estimated cost for this phase is ₹2,300 crore, with ₹950 crore allocated for the stretch from Kadavoor to Vayyankara in Kollam district and ₹1,350 crore for the section from Vayyankara to Anjilimoodu in Alappuzha district.