The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun work on preparing a detailed project report (DPR) on widening the 160-km-long Kochi-Munnar-Theni corridor on National Highway 85 into a four-lane stretch as part of the Bharatmala project.
The project aims to enable safe transit of freight and commuters at higher speeds. The NHAI is learnt to have issued a commencement letter a few days ago to a private firm to ready the DPR for widening the busy corridor by March.
Freight corridor
The NH stretch begins from Kundannoor Junction on Kochi’s NH 66 Bypass and extends up to Theni. Motorists now have a harrowing time on many parts of the the stretch, especially the bottlenecked Kundannoor-Thripunithura portion, where traffic congestion is acute. Most vehicles on the stretch are tipper lorries and trucks ferrying cargo, including hazardous chemicals and fuel.
“The firm entrusted with DPR preparation will initially carry out a preliminary survey and suggest a few alignments. This will be followed by a meeting with people’s representatives and other stakeholders during which the most feasible alignment will be finalised,” said NHAI sources.
Of the total 160-km route, the 40-km NH 85 stretch from Theni to Munnar is part of the Tuticorn-Kochi Economic Corridor. A total of 418 km of the National and State highways in Kerala will be developed under the Bharatmala project.
NH 544 corridor
Meanwhile, the NHAI has engaged another firm to prepare a DPR on widening the Walayar-Edappally stretch of National Highway 544 into a six-lane corridor. It forms part of north-south national corridor. “According to a recent survey, the number of vehicles using the stretch daily is over 77,000 passenger car units (PCUs). The NH here is 45 metres wide. Land will be acquired to build a six-lane corridor which needs another 15-metre width, based on the DPR,” said official sources.
NH 66 widening
Simultaneously, a 3-A notification has been issued in Thrissur district to acquire land at 45-metre width to make the Edappally-Kuttipuram stretch on NH 66 a four-lane corridor. The NHAI is also readying to issue 3-A notification in the Edappally-Muthakunnam reach, where land owners are opposing a second round of eviction.
They had surrendered their land to widen the national highway into a 30-metre corridor, about three decades ago. The NHAI and the State government want to acquire another 7.50 metres on each side, to build a four-lane NH and service roads, spread over 45 metres.
They would be compensated on par with market rate, as per provisions of the NH Act, said an NHAI official.