Kochi, March 10 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the six-lane stretch of the Thalappady Chengala national highway in Kerala this Wednesday. This event marks a significant milestone, completing the first segment among the 23 highway expansion projects currently being executed in the state.

The 39 km stretch, which connects Thalappady—Kerala's northern gateway on the Karnataka border—to Chengala in Kasaragod district, is a vital component of the extensive highway modernization initiative led by the National Highways Authority of India.

Construction on this corridor commenced in November 2021 and was finalized by August 25, 2025, after nearly three years and nine months of dedicated work.

This project has garnered national recognition as it was undertaken by the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society, the sole Kerala-based contractor involved in handling the 23 highway segments across the state.

The cooperative successfully completed the project ahead of several prominent national contractors, earning a reputation for its high-quality work and punctual execution.

In recognition of its excellence, the Society was awarded the prestigious ‘National Highways Excellence Award 2023’ by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The accolade was presented in New Delhi by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, marking the first time the cooperative has been acknowledged for a project with the National Highways Authority.

The Thalappady Chengala highway has also been recognized among the 12 best roads in the country in the 2026 calendar of the National Highways Authority, making it the only project from Kerala to achieve this honor.

A notable engineering feat of this corridor is the construction of the country's longest single-pillar six-lane bridge, which employs a box girder system along this stretch.

In addition to its engineering accomplishments, the project has been praised for its commitment to local considerations and environmental stewardship.

Throughout the construction phase, the cooperative ensured the provision of access roads for local residents living along the highway and actively addressed community concerns by cooperating closely with relevant authorities.

Environmental efforts during the project have also gained attention. For instance, when a rare 40-year-old mango tree needed to be removed near Mogral Puthur, the cooperative produced 500 grafted saplings with assistance from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra at the Kasaragod Horticultural Research Centre and successfully replanted them.

Furthermore, construction was paused for nearly 55 days after workers discovered python eggs at the site, allowing for the hatch before work resumed, a story that received significant media coverage.

Officials highlight that this project exemplifies how infrastructure development can harmoniously coexist with environmental responsibility and community involvement as Kerala's highway network undergoes a transformative phase.