Hill Highway

The Thiruvananthapuram–Kasaragod Hill Highway or State Highway 59 (SH-59) is a proposed state highway in Kerala. Upon completion, it will be the longest highway in Kerala, extending from Nandarapadavu in Kasaragod district to Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram district, at a length of 1332.16 km. The highway will pass through 13 of the 14 districts, the exception being Alappuzha as that district is not part of the hilly ranges of Kerala.[1]

State Highway 59 shield}}
State Highway 59
SH-59
SH 59 highlighted in red
Kuttikkanam-Elappara_State_Highway,_7_Apr_2023.jpg
Route information
Maintained by Kerala Public Works Department
Length1,332.16 km (827.77 mi)
Major junctions
North endNandarapadavu
Major intersections
South end NH 66 in Parassala
Location
CountryIndia
StateKerala
DistrictsKasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram
Highway system
State Highways in Kerala
← SH 58→ SH 60

The highway which is under early stages of construction would pass through areas including Bandadka, Malom, Chittarikkal, Cherupuzha, Alakode, Payyavoor, Ulikkal, Mananthavady, Kalpetta, Thiruvambady, Nilambur, Karuvarakundu, Pookkottumpadam, Edakkara, Palakkad, Pattikkad, Neriamangalam, Kattappana, Mundakayam, Erumely, Ranni, Konni, Koodal, Vazhathope, Pathanapuram, Punalur, Anchal, Kulathupuzha, Madathara, Palode, Vithura, Aryanadu, Vellarada etc. This highway will pass through 13 out of the 14 districts in Kerala state. Between Kannur and Malappuram districts, this highway will have two parallel routes, one through Wayanad district and another through Kozhikode district.[2]

Development of highway-59 in Kerala is proposed in two phases. First phase involved selection of most feasible route between Kasaragod and Palakkad Districts. The National Transportation Planning and Research Centre(NATPAC) has already undertaken detailed investigation and finalised the alignment for Phase I of Hill Highway. Implementation of the same is in progress in the northern region of Kerala. In the second stage possible alternative routes for developing into Hill Highway between Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram Districts are identified. Field studies and environmental screening of the project were completed and NATPAC submitted the report to Government on 21-05-2009. Government have approved the alignment on 6-7-2009 and issued Government order vide GO (MS) No.44/2009/PWD dated 6-7-2009.[3] It is also called as "Kerala's Spice route"[4]

Complete alignment
Sl.No District Alignment Length Remarks
1 Kasaragod Stretch 1 Nandarapadav - Chevar

Nandarapadav, Sunkathakatte, Paivalike, Chevar

Stretch 2 Chevar - Edapparambu

Chevar, Angadimogaru, Puthige, Idiyadukka (Perla), Badiyadka, Mulleria, Padiyathadukka, Athanadi, Edapparamba

Stretch 3 Edapparambu - Kolichal

Edapparamba, Pandi, Pallanchi, Sankarambadi, Paduppu, Bandadka, Manadukkam, Kolichal

Stretch 4 Kolichal - District boundary near Cherupuzha.

Kolichal,Pathinettam Mile, Chully, Malom, Chittarikkal

 128 km
2 Kannur Cherupuzha. Manjakad, Alakode, Karuvanchal, Thavukunnu, Naduvil, Chemperi, Payyavoor, Ulikkal,

Branch 1: Ulikkal, Iritty, Peravoor, Nedumpoil, Vilangad (continues to Kozhikode district)

Branch 2: Ulikkal, Vallithode, Anappanthy, Karikkottakary, Edoor, Aralam, Kappukadavu, Perumbunna, Madapurachal, Manathana, Kottiyoor, Ambayathode, Boy's Town (continues to Wayanad district)

 109 km Dividing southward into 2 branch routes from Ulikkal to merge at Pookkotumpadam in Malappuram district.
3 Kozhikode Stretch 1 Vilangad - Thottilpalam

Vilangad, Kiaveli, Kayakkody, Kuttiady

Stretch 2 Thottilpalam - Thalayad

Maruthonkara, Peruvannamuzhi, Chakkittapara, Narinada, Koorachundu, Kallanodu

Stretch 3 Thalayad - Kodencheri

Thalayad, Kattippara, Malapuram

Stretch 4 Kodencheri - Kakkadampoyil

Kodanchery, Nellippoyil, Pullurampara, Punnackal, Koodaranji, Koombara, Kakkadampoyil

 110 km
4 Wayanad Boy's Town, Mananthavady, Naalam Mile, Anjukunnu , Panamaram, Kambalakkad, Kalpetta, Kappamkolly, Meppadi, Chooralmala, Aranappuzha 96 km Aranappuzha - Munderi road is an 8 km greenfield stretch through forest.
5 Malappuram Branch 1: (from Kozhikode district) Kakkadampoyil, Akampadam, Nilambur, Pookkottumpadam

Branch 2: (from Wayanad district) Munderi, Pothukal, Chungathara, Karulai, Pookottumpadam

Pookkoottumpadam, Kalikavu, Kizhekethala(Karuvarakundu), Pulvetta, Karingalthonni.

 101 km Dividing northward into 2 branch routes from Pookottumpadam to merge at Ulikkal in Kannur district.
6 Palakkad Ponpara, Edathinattukara, Kappuparambu, Thruvizhakunnu, Kottopadam, Kumaram, Puttur, Mannarkadu, Chandranagar (Palakkad Town), Kalligal, Puthunagaram, Kollenkode, Nenmara, Vadakkenchery 130 km
7 Thrissur Pattikkad, Vilangannoor, Mannamangalam, Pulikkanny, Palappilly, Nayattukundu, Vellikulangara, Randukai, Vettilappara 60 km
8 Ernakulam Vettilappara, Adivaram, Kadappara, Ellithodu, Chettinada, Pannamkuzhi, Payal, Kottapadi, Chelladu, Ughipara, Nadukani, Neriamangalam, Arrammile Elamblassery 104 km
9 Idukki Kurathikudi, Perubankuth, Mankulam, Kallar, Eruttukanam, Kunjithanni, Rajakkad, Thinkalkadu, Myladumpara, Nedumkandam, Puliyanmala, Kattappana, Elappara, Kuttikkanam, Mundakayam 166 km
10 Kottayam Mundakayam, Erumely, Palacheri 24 km
11 Pathanamthitta Ranni, Kumbazha, Konni, Koodal 46 km
12 Kollam Pathanapuram, Piravanthoor, Punalur, Karavaloor, Anchal, Kulathupuzha,, Madathara, Kollayil 64 km
13 Thiruvananthapuram Kollayil, Palode

Peringamala,Thennur, Vithura,Thudumukku, Malayadi, Paranthode, Aryanadu, Kuttichal, Kallikkad, Vazhichal, Amboori Kudappanamoodu, Aanapara, Vellarada, Karakonam, Parassala

 75 km

History

The idea of a hill highway through Kasaragod district(then part of Kannur district) and nearby districts hill areas to improve market access of farmers was first mooted by Joseph Kanakamotta who formed Kasaragod District Hill Area Development Committee. He proposed the plan for a hill highway in 1960 and it didn't receive much support at initial years. In the District Development Council meeting held at Kannur in 1966 first approval for the project came through. In 1987 there was an announcement abandoning the project.[5] However the Government of Kerala approved the project and funds were allocated for the same in 2005 and the same year on 17 January 2005, then Chief minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy inaugurated the first phase of the project between Kasaragod and Palakkad at a function held in Payyavoor.[6]

Status of progress

Finalizing alignment of the project and getting clearances from forest department faced huge delays. In September 2016 Detailed Project Report for just 79 km from proposed 1229 km was only completed.[7] The project comprises 40 reaches and in 7 reaches it is planned with less than 12 metre width. As of 2020, works on 21 reaches spread across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kozhikode, Kannur , Kasaragod districts are in progress.[8]

In March 2020, a 46 km stretch of hill highway in Kollam district between Punalur and Agasthyacode (near Anchal) and between Alencherry (near Anchal) and Challimukku (near Kollayil on Kollam - Thiruvananthapuram district border) got completed.[9][10]

In August 2020, works on 35 km stretch of the highway in Kozhikode district between Kodencheri and Kakkadampoyil at a width of 12 m was inaugurated by Minister of Public Works Department. The works are done by Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society.[11] The works on Thottilpalam - Thalayad stretch is facing opposition from land owners.[12]

The Detailed Project Report for project in Kasaragod district was submitted with a length of 128 km through the district in January 2018.[13] As of August 2020, the works in first stretch of the project in Kasaragod district between Nandarapadavu and Chevar are nearing completion and works on other stretches are in progress.[14]

The works in Thiruvananthapuram district commenced in 2018 at Parassala constituency in two reaches Parassala - Kudappanamoodu Reach 1 and Kudappanamoodu - Paruthipalli reaches.[15] As of 2020, the works on Reach 1 is stalled and works in Reach 2 is moving in a very slow pace. In 2021 February, the works on 15.7 km Reach-1 between Parassala - Kudappanamoodu was re-tendered since the contractor to whom it was awarded initially had died due to COVID-19 pandemic.[16] The new contract was awarded to Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society.[17] The works on 7.85 km-long Kudappanamoodu -Kallikkad stretch and the 3.90 km-long Kallikkad-Paruthippally stretch in the subsequent reaches are in progress.

In Wayanad district as of February 2021, the land acquisition from tea estates on a 13 km stretch between Meppadi and Chooralmala is pending.[18] The part of hill highway connecting hill highway of Wayanad district with Malappuram district i.e. the Aranappuzha - Munderi stretch passes through forest 7 km of forest land.[19] This area is ecologically sensitive and was impacted severely by 2019 Kerala floods and approval from Forest Department is still pending in this stretch.[20]

Advantages

The hill highway can benefit the hilly regions of Kerala immensely. It will help boost tourism, improve connectivity and transportation, easy market access to farmers from the hilly regions, relief measures during disasters etc.[21] Though there are apprehensions that this project has ecological impacts, the benefits and value that it brings to people living in high range areas is tremendous.[22] In Nilambur region it will help people access Mysore bypassing the Bandipur night travel ban through Mananthavady.[23]

Budget support
NoFinancial YearAmount outlay (Rs)Amount spend (Rs)[24]
12012-13NilNil
22013-1482.37 lakh6.23 cr
32014-1582.37 lakh8.98 cr
42015-169.06 crore7.35 cr

See also

References
  1. "Delay in getting Forest dept. approvals slows down Hill Highway work". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. "Hill highway to boost Kerala's rural economy". @businessline.
  3. "DPR of hill highway likely in 3 months". The New Indian Express.
  4. "Alignment for hill highway finalised". 30 May 2009 – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. "DPR of hill highway likely in 3 months". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  6. Staff Reporter (3 March 2020). "Joseph Kanakamotta, the man behind hill highway, is no more". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  7. "Hill Highway in Kerala; DPR ready for just 79 kms". Mathrubhumi. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  8. "Land takeover makes going tough for highway projects". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  9. Staff Reporter (15 February 2020). "Hill Highway work nearing completion". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  10. Staff Reporter (15 March 2020). "Construction of Hill Highway protection walls complete". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  11. Staff Reporter (11 August 2020). "Work on Hill Highway to begin today". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  12. "Hill Highway plan may take off soon | Kozhikode News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  13. Staff Reporter (4 January 2018). "Kasaragod ready with hill highway report". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  14. Staff Reporter (1 August 2020). "First stretch of Hill Highway to be opened by August-end". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  15. Radhakrishnan, S. Anil (15 October 2018). "Hill Highway works begin in Thiruvananthapuram". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  16. "First reach of Parassala-Kallikadu highway inching closer to reality". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  17. "Survey for tarring first stretch of hill highway begins". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  18. "എസ്റ്റേറ്റ് ഭൂമി വിട്ടുകിട്ടിയില്ല; മലയോര ഹൈവേ നിര്‍മാണം ഇഴയുന്നു; പ്രതിസന്ധി". Manoramanews. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  19. "Natural calamities likely to affect hill highway project | Kozhikode News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  20. T. P. Nijeesh (20 March 2019). "Wayanad-Nilambur road: Survey of forestland begins | Kozhikode News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  21. "Hill, coastal areas to get better roads | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  22. "Work on coastal, hill highways to begin on November 1". OnManorama. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  23. "Why Wayanad is protesting permanent closure of highway through Bandipur Tiger Reserve". The Indian Express. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  24. http://niyamasabha.org/codes/13kla/session_15/ans/u01384-031215-843000000000-15-13.pdf

Geographic data related to Hill Highway at OpenStreetMap

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