NH-66 expansion project will be completed in December this year: Pa Mohamed Riyas

CV Raman Pillai Road is one of the smart roads that meet modern standards in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Education Minister V. Sivankutty announced a national function at Manaveeyam Veedhi that formally specializes in several smart roads built in the state. |Photo source: Nirmal Harindran

Public Works Minister Pa Mohamed Riyas said here on Friday that the facility extending to six-lane National Highway (NH)-66 from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram will be completed in December this year.

Mr Rias presided over the inauguration ceremony at Manaveeyam Veedhi, which was built in more than 50 roads in different regions by the Public Works Department (PWD), and 12 smart roads in Thiruvananthapuram City developed under the Smart City Project.

Mr Rias said the 166km of the proposed 1,166km highway has been completed. The 793 km of the project was funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Committee (KIIFB). He said 315 kilometers of work is underway.

BM, BC Technology

Rias said nearly 600 kilometers of coastal highway project have completed three ranges. He said the roads opened on Friday, including 12 smart city roads, were built using asphalt’s Australian Group and asphalt concrete (BM and BC) technology. He said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government was able to use the technology to develop 15,000 kilometers of PWD roads in three and a half years. According to Mr Riyas, 65% of the roads in Kerala will be developed using BM and BC technologies by 2026.

“Linker”

General Education Minister V. Sivankutty has officially launched the full PWD road and smart road. Mr Sivankutty said these paths help connect people and speed up development. The smart roads developed by the Kerala Highway Fund Commission have underground pipes for utilities, tiled trails, rebuilt sewer lines and bicycle paths. They also have special rooms that can be repaired without digging the road.

Ministers Gr Anil and Ak Saseendran, Mayor Arya Rajendran and Mlas Antony Raju, VK Prasanth and V. Joy were also present.