Opening in Malapparamba’s NH 66 brings relief to commuters

On April 13, part of National Highway 66 under the newly built overpass in Malapparamba. Image source: K. Ragesh

The National Expressway (NH) 66 extension below the Malapparamba overpass is partially opened on Sunday (13 April 2025). This is a major probation for commuters who have been facing severe traffic congestion at the Malaparamba junction for the past few months due to road expansion. In this way, the Ramanattukara-Vengalam extension of NH 66 is mostly complete and traffic flow has improved.

Malapparamba is the junction of two national highways, NH 66 is below 15 meters below the overpass of NH 766 (Kozhikode to Kollegal). Traffic transfers at the junction (first by the construction of overpasses and later facilitated excavation to a depth of 15 meters) caused heavy congestion in busy areas. The overpass was completed in a record 100 days and was recently opened to traffic. Now half of the road below it has been opened. The remaining half is expected to open at the end of the month.

All overpasses and underground passages along the stretch have been opened. Work on the Arappuzha Bridge is developing rapidly. Construction of the only toll station in the area near the Mampuzha Bridge is also underway. There will be 10 counters on each side of the toll station. Signs, traffic lights and street lights are also installed.

As work on the NH expanded, freight carriers moved through Meenchanda-Kallai Road-Beach Road-Kannur Road for a period of time, resulting in traffic congestion on the route. With the Ramanattukara-Vengalam of NH now mostly open, cargo airlines will return to NH. The extension’s opening is expected to greatly alleviate traffic congestion within the city.