Expediting the coastal highway project works in the district, the government has sanctioned Rs 184.6 crore for Chellanam South-Fort Kochi coastal road which is part of the highway. The amount is allocated for land acquisition and distribution of compensation amount as part of road construction.
The coastal highway is being constructed with a width of 14m as per the national highway standard. The construction of the road is being carried out by the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) with the financial assistance of KIIFB. In the district, a preliminary outline of the stretch from Chellanam South to Fort Kochi and the stretch from Kalamukku to Munambam has already been prepared. Discussions on Fort Kochi-Vypeen stretch alignment of the highway are in progress.
The proposed coastal highway is being constructed from Pozhiyur in Thiruvananthapuram to Kunjathur near Kasaragod. The total length of the road is 624km. Of this, 468km will be constructed by the KRFB.
The remaining portion will also be constructed as part of the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) Bharat Mala project. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 6,500 crore. It is expected that the detailed project report for the Chellanam-Munambam corridor of the highway would be ready by next month.