Thiruvananthapuram: The Union surface transport ministry has in principle agreed to have four more National Highway's in the state.
Thiruvananthapuram- Thenmala (72 km), Hosdurg - Panathur - Bhagamandala - Madikeri (60 km), Cherkalam - Kalladka (28 km) and Vadakkumchery - Pollachi (40 km) will be the new highways.
Top PWD officials held talks with Union surface transport ministry officials in New Delhi on Wednesday where the screening committee comprising finance officials agreed in principle to have four more NHs from the existing 11 NHs. State Public Works Department had requested the Union transport ministry a month ahead to have four more NHs. A top PWD official told this newspaper that the proposed Thiruvananthapuram – Thenmala NH will pass through Nedumangad.
“Now the next process is to prepare the Detailed Project Report and then a survey will be initiated. It will find out whether the proposed two NHs should have two or four lanes as well as alignment will also be finalised. Once the formalities are completed then the number for the prospective NHs will be provided and then the final Government gazette notification will be issued”, said a top PWD official.
Usually the numbering of NH is done by the Union surface transport officials where North – South NH will be given two digits and East – West NH numbering will be given three digits. Currently, the total length of the 11 NHs in the state is 1,872 km. Government of India had renamed the then existing eight NHs in the state during 2010 making it nine NHs – Panavel – Kanyakumari (NH 66), Kochi – Tondi Point (NH 85), Dindigul – Kottarakara (NH 183), Salem – Ernakulam (NH 544), Tirumangalam – Kollam (NH 744), Kozhikode – Mysore (NH 766), Ferokh – Palakkad (NH 966), Kalamassery – Vallarpadam (NH 966A) and Kundannoor - Willington Island (NH 966B). Later in 2015, two more NH’s were developed – Adoor Vandiperiyar (NH 183A – 115 km) and Kumaly – Adimali (NH 185 – 95 km).
