The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would take a call on constructing an elevated highway in the 17-km Edappally-Aroor NH 66 bypass soon after the Lok Sabha poll results are out, even as the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) is in its final stage, sources said.
As per plan, the DPR was to be finalised in March, followed by invitation of tenders in April and finalisation of the bid in May. With the DPR not yet finalised, the agency is expected to take a call on the project after the results are out. The NHAI mulled the six-lane elevated highway along what has come to be the most congested corridor in Kerala on NH 66, considering that it is heavily built up on both sides.
The DPR is being readied by the same firm that prepared the DPR for the elevated highway over the 13-km Aroor-Thuravur stretch. Over 20% of the work is over, and efforts are on to complete the work by the end of 2025 since the contracting firm is executing the work faster than was expected, the sources added.
