KOTTAYAM: The proposed Kottayam-Kumarakom-Kochi corridor, envisaged to connect National Highways 183 and 66 and ease traffic congestion between Kottayam and Kochi, is set to make progress, with the state government expected to submit its recommendation for the project soon.
Kottayam MP K Francis George said Chief Minister V D Satheesan and the Public Works Minister P K Basheer had assured him that the state government would soon submit the necessary recommendation for the construction of the road.
The proposed corridor will start from Kottayam and pass through Kumarakom, Vechur and Vaikom before reaching the Angamaly-Kundannoor bypass near the Tripunithura market. The project assumes significance given the severe traffic congestion on the existing route between Kottayam and Kochi.
According to data from the National Highways wing, traffic volume on the route is around 90,000 passenger car units (PCUs) a day, nearly nine times the road’s stated capacity. In comparison, a standard two-lane road is designed to handle around 10,000 PCUs a day. Consequently, motorists take more than three hours to cover the 60-km stretch between Kottayam and Kochi during peak hours.
Against this backdrop, George took up the proposal for a corridor connecting NH 183 and NH 66 between Kottayam and Kochi with the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. After the minister assured the Lok Sabha that the proposal would be considered, George held discussions with the chief minister and the PWD minister to take the project forward.
According to George, the Union minister has indicated that the road could be developed as an elevated structure to minimise its impact on the environment and agriculture, while ensuring that the natural flow of water is not obstructed. The proposed design is also expected to address concerns related to land acquisition.
“The Union government can take up the road as part of the National Highway network only after receiving a recommendation from the state government. The chief minister has assured me that it will be submitted shortly,” George said.
The corridor, if realised, is expected to improve connectivity across Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts and provide a boost to transport, trade and industrial activities in Central Kerala. It would also offer faster access to Nedumbassery airport and make Kumarakom, a major international tourism destination, more accessible to visitors, including international tourists.