Thiruvananthapuram: The worsening traffic bottleneck between Kazhakkoottam and Pallippuram on NH 66 is becoming a major concern for the IT workforce at Technocity (Technopark Phase IV), with employees losing valuable working hours navigating snarls caused by ongoing highway construction.For hundreds of IT professionals travelling from Thiruvananthapuram city to Technocity at Pallippuram, what should be a relatively short commute has become unpredictable. Vehicles are being diverted through service roads at several stretches, while work on flyovers, underpasses and other structures continues. Traffic queues frequently build up from Kazhakkoottam towards Pallippuram.“Every day, a considerable amount of time is lost in traffic. For an IT professional, this directly affects productivity. If the road can be completed and opened quickly, it would make a huge difference to thousands of employees travelling to Technocity,” said Praveen Nath S, an IT engineer working at Technocity.The demand to expedite the stretch has gained significance as Technocity emerges as one of the capital’s major new IT destinations. The 29-km Kazhakkoottam-Kadampattukonam NH 66 widening project involves six-laning, along with flyovers, underpasses and service roads. However, the project has faced repeated delays.The original contractor, RDS Projects Ltd, subcontracted the work to Pune-based RKC Infrastructure Ltd after facing financial difficulties. The project subsequently struggled with inadequate mobilisation, shortage of materials and other issues. NHAI had also imposed a Rs 50-crore penalty on RDS Projects in 2025 for failing to meet the prescribed progress rate.Though the revised completion target for the overall stretch is March 2027, concerns remain that further delays could push the deadline. Work has slowed again amid reported difficulties between the main contractor and subcontractor. A section of the workforce deployed by RKC has reportedly returned to Maharashtra, while only limited work is continuing at some locations.For Technocity, however, waiting for the entire Kazhakkoottam-Kadampattukonam package to be completed may not be practical. Stakeholders want the Kazhakkoottam-Pallippuram-Mangalapuram section to be completed on priority and opened to traffic wherever technically possible.Technopark CEO Sandip Kumar has sought urgent improvement of road connectivity to Technocity, particularly in view of the large-scale developments planned at Phase IV.“The highway section at least from Kazhakkoottam to Mangalapuram should be completed immediately. Large-scale projects, including QUAD, Space Park, Digital Science Park and the TCS campus, are coming up. Since many employees live in the city, connectivity is difficult because of the road works and diversions. We have already raised this issue with the NHAI,” Sandip told TOI.Traffic pressure is expected to increase as more projects become operational at Technocity. The TCS campus alone is expected to accommodate around 6,000 IT professionals in its Phase I facility, according to Technopark.The issue was also raised by Kazhakkoottam MLA V Muraleedharan during his recent interaction with Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari. He sought flyovers at key junctions, including Attipra, and urged the Centre to prioritise the Kazhakkoottam-Mangalapuram stretch.Meanwhile, a senior NHAI official said work on the stretch would be completed soon.“Though work has slowed due to contractor issues, we have instructed the contractor to prioritise this section because of the heavy traffic congestion. One layer of tarring has already been completed in front of Technocity. However, this will not be sufficient. The flyover works at Vetturoad and Kaniyapuram will also be completed as soon as possible,” the official said. Pallippuram is emerging as the next major IT hub in the capital.
