Key facts
- The Centre has approved Rs 1,663.15 crore for the first phase of the Kollam-Theni National Highway (NH-183) development project.
- The approval covers a 54.37-km stretch from Kadavoor Bypass Junction in Kollam to Anjilimoodu near Chengannur.
- The project includes Rs 689.20 crore for civil works, Rs 331.64 crore for land acquisition, and Rs 394.19 crore for demolition and compensation.
- The highway will be developed as a four-lane national highway with a width of 20 metres.
- The project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
- The development aims to reduce travel time and improve freight movement, benefiting trade, industry, agriculture, and tourism.
The Union government has approved Rs 1,663.15 crore for the first phase of the Kollam-Theni National Highway (NH-183) development project, according to Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh. This approval covers a 54.37-km stretch from Kadavoor Bypass Junction in Kollam to Anjilimoodu near Chengannur, addressing a long-standing demand from residents in the central Travancore region.
The project's total cost includes Rs 689.20 crore for civil works, Rs 331.64 crore for land acquisition, and Rs 394.19 crore for demolition and compensation. The highway will be upgraded to a four-lane standard with a 20-metre width and is scheduled for completion within 24 months under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model.
Infrastructure enhancements will include three major bridges, six minor bridges, 103 culverts, one railway overbridge, and two vehicle underpasses, alongside a 88.81 km drainage network. Safety features such as crash barriers, modern signboards, and lighting systems will also be installed. Several major and minor junctions along the route will be modernized.
Suresh stated that the project is expected to significantly reduce travel times and improve freight movement, thereby stimulating opportunities in trade, industry, agriculture, and tourism within the central Travancore region. He also indicated plans to advocate for a 24-metre width for the highway to accommodate future traffic needs.