Kerala's Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer told the state Assembly on Friday, 16 October 2026, that the government will investigate alleged construction deficiencies in National Highway 66 (NH-66) and forward the findings to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at the Centre. The assurance follows growing concern over the highway's design — particularly its raised embankments and underpasses — in densely populated stretches of Kerala.

What Triggered the Assembly Discussion

The issue was raised by G. Sudhakaran MLA, who demanded that the 16-km stretch from Kalarkode to the northern side of the Thottappally spillway in Alappuzha district be converted into a continuous elevated highway. He also sought a review of existing construction shortcomings, arguing that the highway's design had not adequately accounted for Kerala's high population density and the large number of towns along the route.

Sudhakaran said raised road sections resembling walls and underpasses resembling tunnels at certain locations had caused alarm among local residents. His submission reflects a broader anxiety in the state about whether NH-66 — a critical north-south artery — was designed with Kerala's unique urban geography in mind.

What the Minister Said

Minister Basheer acknowledged the concerns but was measured in his response. He explained that converting the near-completed stretch into a continuous elevated highway at this stage would be difficult, as it would require major alterations to the approved design, extensive reconstruction, and significant additional expenditure.

He also clarified the jurisdictional reality: the ownership, control, and development of national highways rest with the Central government, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is solely responsible for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of NH-66 in Kerala. The minister noted that the choice between elevated highways, flyovers, underpasses, embankments, and retaining structures is governed by engineering requirements, traffic conditions, and technical and financial feasibility — and that elevated structures carry higher costs due to the need for piles, pillars, and superstructures.

Basheer did not offer any immediate assurance that existing structures would be redesigned. Instead, the proposed probe and its subsequent submission to the Centre will determine next steps.

The Broader Design Debate

The concerns over NH-66 are not entirely new. Critics have long argued that highway design in Kerala must account for the state's ribbon-development pattern, where towns and habitations run almost continuously along major roads. Raised embankments that serve as walls can sever communities, impede drainage, and restrict access to local businesses — issues that are particularly acute in coastal districts such as Alappuzha.

Notably, this surfaces a recurring tension in national highway projects across India: the NHAI applies standardised engineering templates that may not always align with state-specific conditions, while state governments retain limited authority to intervene in design or execution.

What Happens Next

The Kerala government's investigation will feed into a formal report to be submitted to Union Minister Gadkari. Whether that report leads to any design modifications, retrofits, or compensation for affected residents remains to be seen. The episode also tests how effectively state governments can influence Central infrastructure projects already in advanced stages of completion.