Kerala Leads the Way in Land Acquisition for National Highway Projects
The state government of Kerala has made a significant contribution towards land acquisition for national highway projects under the NH Ernakulam region, amounting to a staggering Rs 2,175.81 crore, as revealed by a recent RTI reply.
Breakdown of Land Acquisition Expenditure
- Total land acquired: 409.21 hectares
- Amt. paid by state till date: Rs 2,175.81 crore
Kerala stands out as the only state in India that bears 25% of the total land acquisition costs in an effort to expedite central highway projects.
NHAI's Significant Civil Investment
Over the past decade (2016-2026), NHAI has completed 127.77km of highway construction in the region, with a total financial expenditure on civil works reaching Rs 8,628 crore.
Key Projects in the Region
- Angamaly-Kundannoor Bypass
- Kochi-Theni Greenfield Highway
- Proposed Edappally-Aroor elevated highway
- Kochi Bypass six-lane project upgraded to an eight-lane expressway with alignment extended to Aroor
Recent Milestones
Two critical stretches of NH 66 expansion have recently achieved a major milestone, with provisional completion certificates being issued for Ramanattukara-Valancherry and Valanchery-Kappirikkad sections.
These stretches are now operational, providing a high-speed six-lane corridor that bypasses congested local bottlenecks.
RTO activist Raju Vazhakkala said, "Scope of Kochi PIU covers Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Alappuzha districts. A major portion of NH works is happening in central region, especially Ernakulam."