Alappuzha Bypass

Alappuzha Bypass is a part of NH 66 that bypasses the CBD of Alappuzha city in Kerala, India. The 6.8 km long, two lane bypass is the first and longest elevated beach highway in the country, starting at Kalarcode in the south and ending at Kommady in the north. It runs along the beachside of Alappuzha City. It is a joint venture (50:50) between the central and state governments. Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India. The contractor for the project was RDS-CVCC, which is a joint venture that is also responsible for Kollam Bypass project, which was inaugurated in 2019 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. CVCC worked on the Kollam Bypass while RDS construction company completed the Alappuzha bypass. This was the first bypass project in the state of Kerala but the construction was delayed by 40 years.

The Central government contributed Rs 185 crores and the State government Rs 250 crores for the project. The bypass is under the Thuravoor Thekku - Paravur stretch of the national highway widening project. As a part of six laning NH 66, a two lane elevated bridge parallel to the existing elevated bridge is under construction.

History

The necessity for a bypass at Alappuzha dates back to the 1970s. NH 66 is one of the longest national highways in India stretching from Panvel to Kanyakumari and criss-crossing through the Alappuzha city centre. The highway gets narrower as it enters the urban area, and together with the criss-crossing, a lot of traffic is created. Since then it had been a long time plea to reroute the national highway around the downtown.

The land for the Alappuzha bypass was acquired by the revenue department in 1980, and the width of the bypass was decided to be 45 meters wide. In 2008, the project became a part of the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) project to convert NH 66 into a 4 lane road from Cherthala to Oachira. In 2010, it was announced that the bypass would be its own special project. On April 10th, 2015, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the construction on the bypass, and work on it began.

Timeline

Year Events 1980 Early proposals for constructing NH Bypass road at Alappuzha. 1980 The revenue department had acquired land for the bypass. 2008 Alappuzha bypass was included as a part of the project of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). 2010 Centre had announced that the bypass project would be completed as a special project. 2015 Union transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the long-pending construction works of the Alappuzha bypass from Kommadi to Kalarkode. 2017 Delay in fund allocation and public protest put off the proposed completion by September 2017. 2018 Indian Railways declined approval for constructing the two ROBs at Malikamukku and Kuthirapanthy. 2020 Indian Railways granted permission to place girders at Malikamukku in January 2020. 2020 Following to Malikamukku, Indian Railways nods to place girders at Kuthirapanthy in June 2020. 2021 Alappuzha Bypass inaugurated on 28 January by Nitin Gadkari (Central Road Transport Minister), and Pinarayi Vijayan (Chief Minister of Kerala).

Project specifications

Project Title Alappuzha BypassType Elevated Beach HighwayTotal DistanceConstruction ModeEngineering Procurement Construction (EPC)ContractorCherian Varkey Construction Company-RDS (JV), KochiSouth EndKalarcodeNorth EndKommadyROBs2 (Malikamukku & Kuthirapanthy)UnderpassMajor BridgesNo of PilingsPiersCulvertsProject Cost

Gallery

Alappuzha Bypass

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