NHAI sanctions ₹42.6 crore to end NH 66 waterlogging in Kollam, Alappuzha

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has sanctioned ₹42.6 crore for a comprehensive project to address persistent waterlogging along National Highway 66 in Kollam and Alappuzha districts of Kerala. The initiative aims to eliminate chronic flooding that has affected commuters and residents for years.

The authority will fully fund the project, recognising that blocked natural streams, changing land-use patterns, and inadequate drainage networks beyond highway limits are the primary triggers of severe flooding on the stretch. NHAI has resolved to bear the entire cost of connecting highway outfalls to the nearest natural discharge channels.

Of the total sanctioned amount, ₹28.55 crore has been allocated for Kollam district and ₹14.05 crore for Alappuzha district. The funds will be deployed for extensive drainage works along two critical stretches of NH 66 — the Paravoor–Kottukulangara and Kottukulangara–Kollam border sections. The project is expected to provide immediate relief to commuters and residents in flood-prone areas including Punnapra, Ambalappuzha, Haripad, Kayamkulam, Oachira, Karunagappally, and Chavara.

The decision follows three high-level joint sessions with the State Government held on January 16, May 13, and July 15, during which district administrations were asked to prepare localised drainage estimates. The allocation is part of a broader, phased clearance drive under which funds are released upon review of location-specific estimates provided by local authorities. Previously, ₹89.54 crore had been cleared for flood-mitigation works in Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kollam, Kannur, and Kasaragod.

For the current project, the estimates and field-level blueprints are being prepared directly by Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) engineers and district-level technical teams. Leveraging their understanding of local topography and drainage behaviour, these teams have mapped out an integrated network designed to address site-specific challenges and manage water flow sustainably. The sanctioned funds will be disbursed through the respective District Collectors’ offices, while execution will be handled by Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs) or designated State departments.

The move is seen as a significant step toward resolving recurring flood issues along NH 66, a key route for commuters and freight movement in the region. Residents and local officials have long called for permanent solutions to waterlogging, which disrupts traffic and damages property during monsoon seasons.