The protesters’ demands include steps to prevent seepage of rainwater beneath the newly developed embankments, proper drainage, and also steps to ensure uniform width of service roads on either side of the Edappally-Kodungalloor NH 66.
| Photo Credit: File photo

Shortly after a few newly developed NH 66 corridors developed cracks in many parts of north Kerala during the past few days, protests have revived in many areas on the Edappally-Kodungalloor NH 66 stretch, demanding that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) take steps to avert such a perilous situation on the stretch.

The protesters’ demands include steps to prevent seepage of rainwater beneath the newly developed embankments, proper drainage, and also steps to ensure uniform width of service roads on either side to cater to local traffic and buses.

Cheranalloor resident Ebenser Chullikkat, who is among those leading the protests, said the height of the highway was reduced on the Cheranalloor Signal Junction-Varapuzha bridge stretch following widespread protests by the Samara Samithi, residents, and traders since otherwise the excess rainwater was entering houses and other buildings. “Steps must be taken to prevent water gushing into plots and buildings on the rest of the corridor where NH works are on,” he said.

In addition, the NHAI must realign drains since the pre-cast structures do not have adequate gradient in many places for water to seamlessly flow into adjacent waterbodies. This has rendered them ineffective. On being informed, the district administration had instructed the Irrigation department to inspect the drains and issue a no-objection certificate, he added.

While these two issues are expected mostly during rainy weather, the Samithi has once again highlighted the problem posed by narrower-than-normal service roads at a few places. Their demand is to ensure that the service roads on either side have the mandatory seven-metre-wide tarred carriageway to enable traffic in both directions.

“Once widened to six-lane width, the upcoming NH corridor would have a design speed of 90 kmph, with entry from service roads to the main carriageway available only every 2 km or so. This would necessitate the diversion of private buses through the service roads and the need for at least a seven-metre wide tarred carriageway, failing which traffic snarls would occur,” sources said.

Responding to the concerns, official sources said there was no reason to be concerned about waterlogging since drains and culverts had been built by the NHAI. “It is there for everybody to see, especially at Edappally, where there has been no waterlogging since 2024. Moreover, site inspections are being done and canals are being cleaned.”

They added that it would be up to the Irrigation department and the local body concerned to henceforth clean the canals.