NH 66 Widening Project Faces Fresh Delays in Thiruvananthapuram
The ambitious highway widening project on National Highway 66 has hit another significant roadblock. Work on the crucial 29-kilometer stretch between Kazhakkoottam and Kadampattukonam is now facing fresh delays that threaten to push completion timelines further back.
Critical Material Shortages Halt Progress
Contractors report acute difficulty in procuring red earth, an essential material for landfilling and embankment work across the entire highway project. The quarries in Kilimanoor, Thattathumala and Venjaramoodu panchayats simply cannot supply the quantities needed to keep construction moving at the required pace.
Pune-based RKC Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, which is carrying out the work under subcontract from original contractor RDS Projects Ltd, confirmed the supply challenges. They emphasized that red earth remains critical for multiple aspects of the highway expansion.
Administrative Bottlenecks Compound Problems
Local government approval delays have made the situation even more challenging. According to existing rules, local bodies can grant permissions for soil extraction of up to 3,000 cubic metres. However, officials report that election-related slowdowns and procedural backlogs have significantly delayed these crucial permissions.
A senior National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official acknowledged the challenges. "We have been in touch with local bodies to expedite approvals," he stated. "We are also exploring alternate sources wherever possible." The official did not provide a definitive timeline for resolving these issues.
Multiple Factors Slowing Construction
The project faces several additional complications:
- Drone surveys by Keltron are progressing slowly, affecting precise earthwork and alignment decisions
- The current seasonal window from December to May is crucial for construction work
- Delays now could mean monsoon rains later in the year push completion further beyond targets
The official specifically referenced historically heavy rainfall patterns that have previously stalled work on similar projects in the region.
Current Status and Commuter Impact
Despite the challenges, some progress continues. The service road between Korani and Mamom has been completed and is now open to traffic. Other major components including underpasses and sections of the elevated highway remain in various stages of construction.
However, the overall pace has slowed significantly. Only about 50% of the work on this stretch has been completed so far. Local commuters already complain of traffic snarls and travel delays along the partly completed sections.
Timeline Concerns Mount
Infrastructure analysts express serious concerns about the project's completion schedule. The original deadline was January 2025, which was later extended to October 2025. If soil procurement and administrative bottlenecks are not resolved quickly, experts warn the timeline could slip further to December 2026.
The highway widening project aims to transform this crucial stretch into a six-lane road with service roads, flyovers and underpasses. What began as a much-anticipated infrastructure upgrade now faces uncertain completion dates as material shortages and paperwork delays continue to hamper progress.
