Kollam Bypass
കൊല്ലം ബൈപ്പാസ്
Map of Kollam Bypass
Kollam Bypass, Feb 2020.jpg
Kadavoor bridge: Part of Kollam Bypass
Route information
Maintained by NHAI
Length13.141 km (8.165 mi)
StatusOperational
History2019-Present
Timeline
  • Planned : 1972
  • Approval : 1978
  • Phase-I : 1993
  • Phase-II : 1999
  • Phase-III : 2019
Major junctions
South end NH-66 in Mevaram
Major intersectionsKollam-Kulathupuzha road in Ayathil
NH-744 in Kallumthazham
NH-183 in Kadavoor
Kureepuzha road in Aravila
North end NH-66 in Kavanad
Location
CountryIndia
Major citiesDowntown Kollam
Highway system

Kollam Bypass (Malayalam: കൊല്ലം ബൈപ്പാസ്) is a part of NH 66 that bypasses CBD of Kollam city in Kerala, India. The busy 13.141 km long bypass starts at Mevaram in the south to Kavanad in the north, via Ayathil, Kallumthazham, Kadavoor and Kureepuzha in Kollam city.[1] It is a joint venture between the central and state government. It was inaugurated on 15 January 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[2][3]

History

Government of Kerala had proposed Kollam bypass project in 1972. The then Public Works Department minister Mr. T. K. Divakaran was the man behind Kollam bypass project. The earlier plan was to construct a bypass road through Kollam city via Olayil, Thevally, Vellayittambalam. But T. K. Divakaran denied that proposal and asked to re-draw the plan through Mevaram. Ayathil, Kallumthazham, Kavanad route and then mooted the bypass plan as per the new route.[4] Later in 1993, a stretch of 3 km from Mevaram to Ayathil was completed and 1.5 km Ayathil-Kallumthazham stretch was completed in 1999 and the remaining Kallumthazham-Kavanad stretch completed in 2019.[5] This stretch includes three bridges, five culverts, one vehicle underpass, and five major intersections, and needs to pass over the Ashtamudi Lake. The road includes a seven-metre two-lane carriageway, paved shoulders and earthen shoulders.[6][7] The importance of the Kollam bypass is that it touches 3 major National Highways(NH 66(Formerly known as NH 47), NH 183 (Formerly known as NH 220), NH 744 (Formerly known as NH 208)) passing through the state of Kerala.

The two-lane Kollam Bypass road was inaugurated on 15 January by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The road is witnessing heavy traffic congestion since its opening. In January 2019, the Government of Kerala and NHAI have decided to widen the road into 45 meters. As per the plan, Kollam Bypass would become a four-lane road with overbridges at Mevaram, Kavanad and underpassages at Ayathil, Kallumthazham and Kadavoor junctions.[8]

Timeline

Year Events
1972 Proposal for constructing NH Bypass road at Kollam and stone laid in February at Kavanad
1975 Token amount allotted for Kollam Bypass project
1978 Permission received from Central Road Ministry on 3 May to construct NH Bypass in Kollam city
1993 3 km long Mevaram-Ayathil stretch of Kollam Bypass completed (Phase-I - Construction cost: ₹3.75cr)
1999 1.5 km long Ayathil-Kallumthazham stretch of Kollam Bypass completed (Phase-II - Construction cost: ₹2.75cr)
2015 Works on 8.6 km long Kallumthazham-Kavanad stretch started on 27 May 2015 (Phase-III - Construction cost: ₹277.24cr)
2019 Kollam Bypass inaugurated on 15 January by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Project Details

*Included in the plan. Not yet started/completed

Junctions

Latest developments on bypass project

Kia Showroom beside Kollam Bypass
Travancore Medical College Hospital entrance beside Kollam Bypass

Gallery

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kollam Bypass.

References

  1. ^ Kollam bypass: Central team conducts alignment study
  2. ^ "LIVE updates: Congress has multiple stands on Sabarimala issue, says PM Modi". Hindustan Times. 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  3. ^ "PM dedicates Kollam bypass to the nation". The Hindu. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  4. ^ "TK Divakaran's dream turns real". Deccan Chronicle. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  5. ^ Talks held on NH bypass completion
  6. ^ Bypasses to take 3 years for completion
  7. ^ Fears over construction of Kollam, Alappuzha NH bypasses
  8. ^ "Heavy traffic congestion at Kollam bypass". Deccan CHronicle. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  9. ^ "PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Kollam Bypass on Jan 15". East Coast Daily via Dailyhunt. 6 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  10. ^ Kollam, Alappuzha bypass work to be re-tendered
  11. ^ Centre and Kerala Govt to share Kollam, Alappuzha bypass project equally
  12. ^ "Decks cleared for bypass work at Alappuzha, Kollam". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  13. ^ Nod to Kollam, Alappuzha bypass road in Kerala
  14. ^ "National highway works to resume immediately in Kerala: Gadkari - Business Standards". Business Standards. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  15. ^ "100 Bridges to be Opened in 400 Days, Says Minister - The New Indian Express". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Bypass works to be over in 30 months - The Hindu". The Hindu. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  17. ^ "Preliminary work on Kollam bypass begins - The Hindu". The Hindu. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  18. ^ "Phase II work of Kollam bypass from 10 April - The Hindu". The Hindu. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Work on Kollam-Alappuzha bypass inaugurated". Manorama. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  20. ^ "MP inspects bypass work". The Hindu. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Kollam bypass work comes to a standstill". The Hindu. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Lack of materials delays Kollam bypass work". Deccan Chronicle. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Kollam bypass to be commissioned in August: MP". The Times of India. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  24. ^ "KCM Pinarayi Vijayan puts focus back on National Highway expansion". Deccan Chronicle. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Kollam bypass to get street lights". Deccan Chronicle. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  26. ^ "Kollam bypass to be opened on 2 Feb". The Times of India. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  27. ^ "BJP gets the better of LDF, PM to open Kollam bypass". Deccan Chronicle. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  28. ^ "Modi will open Kollam bypass on 15 January, say BJP leaders; LDF fumes". On Manorama. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  29. ^ "State seeks toll exemption for Kollam bypass". The Hindu. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  30. ^ "Kollam bypass will be made four lane: MP". The Hindu. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
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