T’puram: In a major safety-focused upgrade to the ongoing six-laning of NH 66, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) floated a fresh engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender on Monday worth around Rs 959.25 crore for constructing 12 viaducts, a cut-and-cover tunnel and additional pedestrian underpasses on Kazhakkoottam–Kadampattukonam section. However, sources said this new work may affect the already delayed NH 66 work.The tender was floated for 45 days, with bids scheduled to be opened after the submission deadline on Aug 21. The completion period for the work is one and a half years and maintenance period is 10 years. The locations where viaducts are coming up include Technopark Phase-IV, CRPF Pallipuram and Mamom near Attingal bypass.The additional works have been introduced as new project components following a review of safety measures on NH 66. The move comes in the wake of a series of accidents reported in Kollam and Malappuram.The stretch is already under construction as part of NH 66 widening programme. The main carriageway and associated civil works are being executed by Pune based RKC Infrastructure Ltd, which took over the project after earlier contractual changes. These works will continue under the existing contract, while the newly sanctioned safety structures will be taken up separately after the fresh tender is awarded. The deadline for this work was extended until March 31, 2027.According to a senior NHAI official, the new work will not affect the ongoing work. “This is fresh work and it is needed, especially in Kerala as the ground is vulnerable owing to heavy rain. The traffic along the stretch will not be disrupted once ongoing work is completed,” the official said.The proposed viaducts are expected to improve traffic flow across built-up and low-lying areas while reducing conflict points on the highway. The cut-and-cover tunnel and additional pedestrian underpasses are aimed at ensuring safer movement for locals and minimising dangerous highway crossings.The contractor executing Kazhakkoottam–Kadampattukonam reach said the project achieved 75% physical progress so far. Notably, around 80% of the service roads along this corridor have already been completed, improving local connectivity even as main carriageway works continue.Kazhakkoottam–Kadampattukonam package is one of the most crucial links in Kerala’s NH 66 widening project, connecting Thiruvananthapuram with northern districts and carrying heavy passenger and freight traffic, including vehicles bound for the Vizhinjam International Seaport.The fresh tender marks a significant modification to the original project design, reflecting NHAI’s decision to incorporate enhanced road safety infrastructure into ongoing highway construction across state. Similar engineering interventions are expected to be considered for other NH-66 stretches wherever required following detailed safety audits.The initiative is expected to improve both operational efficiency and long-term safety on one of Kerala’s busiest national highway corridors.The project faced multiple challenges that impacted its pace. A sharp rise in the cost and shortage of key construction materials such as bitumen, PVC and aggregates, partly attributed to global supply disruptions following conflicts like Gulf crisis, significantly affected execution timelines. The contractor earlier reported difficulties in sourcing materials at stable prices, adding financial strain to ongoing work.Additionally, monsoon, administrative and logistical hurdles contributed to delays. Digital surveys, land acquisition procedures, and the transfer of revenue officials during election periods slowed progress in certain sections. Quarry operations, crucial for sourcing earth for embankment works, were also delayed due to regulatory and operational constraints.Labour shortages further compounded the situation, with many migrant workers returning to their home states to participate in elections, leading to temporary workforce gaps at construction sites.
