Kerala is set for a major boost in commerce, industry, and infrastructure development with the ongoing completion of National Highway 66 (NH 66), which connects the northern and southern parts of the state. The highway, which also links major ports including Vizhinjam and Kochi, is expected to enhance shipping and freight movement across the region.
The 1,640-km-long NH 66 begins at Panvel in Maharashtra and terminates at Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, the 678-km stretch from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram Karodu is underway, with 450 km already completed. Authorities aim to finish the remaining sections by June 2026, after which the completed stretches will be inaugurated.
Key benefits for ports and logistics
NH 66 connects major ports such as Vizhinjam and Kochi International Container Terminals, along with smaller ports in Kozhikode and Kannur. The highway will streamline the movement of containers arriving on large ships at Vizhinjam and Kochi ports, allowing faster delivery to inland destinations. Movement of goods through smaller ports is also expected to increase significantly.
Strengthening industrial corridors
The highway is strategically linked to the Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor. While the industrial corridor is being developed along NH 544 from Kochi Edappally to Walayar, NH 66 will further boost enterprises, particularly in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. The road will also benefit IT parks in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, with positive implications for healthcare, real estate, industry, and logistics sectors.
Connecting highways
NH 66 intersects with several important national highways in Kerala, including:
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Malaparamba – Kollegal 776
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Ramanattukara – Palakkad 966
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Cheranalloor – Vallarpadam 966A
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Edappally – Salem 544
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Kundannur – Thondi 85
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Kundannur – Cochin Port 966B
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Chavara – Vandiperiyar 183A
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Kadavur – Kumily 183
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Kallumthazham – Thirumangalam 744
Officials from various industrial and commercial organizations said that the proximity to NH 66 will be a game-changer for the state’s economic and infrastructural development.
