Financial stalemate ends, government pushes NH 183 project into construction phase

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Uncertainty surrounding the financial commitments of the State government for the development of the Kollam–Theni National Highway (NH 183) has come to an end, with the government issuing an order to refund ₹73.18 crore as the State’s GST share, accepting the conditions laid down by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The project involves developing a 54.37-km stretch of NH 183 — from Kadavoor bypass junction to Anjilimoodu near Chengannur—into a four-lane highway with a 20-metre right-of-way. “Following the consensus reached on the State’s financial share, the Revenue department will accelerate preliminary procedures related to land acquisition, including the imminent publication of revised 3A and 3D notifications in the gazette. The State government has already appointed a special tehsildar and other officials to oversee the land acquisition process,” said Kodikunnil Suresh MP.

In the first phase of the NH 183 development, approximately 40 km of the highway passing through the Mavelikara Lok Sabha constituency will be expanded into four lanes. This initiative is expected to transform transportation facilities significantly in key areas, including Kunnathur, Sasthamcotta, Sooranad, Charumoodu, and Kollakadavu.

The project, which received the Centre’s approval in June, has been granted administrative and technical sanction totaling ₹1,663.15 crore. Key expenditures include ₹689.20 crore for civil works, ₹331.64 crore for land acquisition and related procedures, and ₹394.19 crore allocated for demolition of structures and compensation payouts.

The Central government’s stand required the State to accept one of two conditions for the project to proceed: either the State has to bear the entire cost of utility relocation and land acquisition for utility corridors, or refund the State GST share. “Based on a report submitted by the State Public Works department Chief Engineer, the State’s GST share has been calculated at ₹73.18 crore, which the State has now formally cleared. Now that the uncertainty regarding the State government’s share has come to an end, the next step is to accelerate land acquisition procedures and move the project into the construction phase,” said the MP.

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