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In Kerala, work on the proposed Kuttippuram-Puthupponnani National Highway (NH) will begin on February 10. The State Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the work at a function to be held in Chamravattom. The highway is going to be constructed parallel to the existing NH 17.

The highway that will start from Pamba region near to the Kuttippuram bridge will pass through Ayankalam, Thandilam, before it will reach at Puthuponnnani.

The State government will construct the 11.4 kilometre stretch of the National Highway from Kuttippuram to Chamravattom and the remaining works have already completed by NH authorities. The government has already sanctioned Rs 38 crore for the work of the highway.

It is first time, the state government is going to carry out National Highway works. Though the Chamravattom bridge across Bharatappuzha, which shortened the distance between Eranakulam to Kozhikode at least by 40 kilometres, was thrown open for traffic months ago, the poor condition of the highway from Kuttippuram to Ponnani has forced the vehicles including buses to stay away from the route.

It is expected that with the construction of the new highway with 30 metre width, the traffic issues of this route will be resolved to a certain extent. The construction work of the highway was started in 1987, but the work was stopped in the beginning itself following the legal battle over the quality of works between NH authorities and contractor of the work.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during the inaugural function of Chamrvattom bridge, during last year had announced that the State government will soon carry out the work of highway from Kuttippuram to Chamravattom bridge. Following this, the government sanctioned amount for the highway construction work.