**Policy Summary: Addressing Issues on National Highway NH966 in Palakkad**
This document summarizes the response of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to concerns raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1936 regarding the condition of National Highway NH966, specifically the Olavakkode-Thanavu road stretch in Palakkad.
The Ministry acknowledges that deep potholes on NH966 have been causing traffic jams and accidents. To address this, maintenance work between Thanavu and Olavakkode, with an estimated cost of ₹34.90 lakh, was approved in December 2024. The tendering process faced challenges, requiring five calls to finalize. The work is scheduled to commence shortly and is targeted for completion by October 2025.
The summary also addresses concerns about incomplete widening work near Thanavu Junction at Puthuppariyaram, which has resulted in bottlenecks. A 300-meter stretch was excluded from the NH966 widening project (Nattukal to Thanavu, completed in June 2023) due to insufficient Right of Way (ROW).
To mitigate traffic congestion between Olavakkode and Chandranagar, the Ministry is considering a proposal for a four-lane greenfield access-controlled project between Palakkad and Kozhikode, designed to decongest the existing NH966.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of the national highways.
SHRI V K SREEKANDAN: Member of Parliament who raised the question about the condition of NH966 in the Lok Sabha.
SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways who answered the question in the Lok Sabha.
National Highway NH966: A national highway in India, specifically referenced in the question regarding its condition and proposed upgrades.
Palakkad, Kerala: A town and district in Kerala, India, where the problematic stretch of NH966 is located.
Olavakkode, Kerala: A location in Palakkad, Kerala, part of the stretch of NH966 experiencing traffic issues.
Thanavu, Kerala: A location in Palakkad, Kerala, near where widening work on NH966 was incomplete, causing bottlenecks.
Kozhikode, Kerala: A city in Kerala, India; the destination of a proposed greenfield access controlled project from Palakkad to decongest NH966.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1936
ANSWERED ON 31st JULY, 2025
DEEP POTHOLES ON NH-966
1936. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether deep potholes on National Highway (NH)-966 especially
along the Olavakkode-Thanavu road stretch in Palakkad have been
causing traffic jams and accidents if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the incomplete widening work on this highway just 250-
300 metres before Thanavu Junction at Puthuppariyaram in Palakkad
has resulted into a bottleneck on the said stretch causing traffic jams
and accidents if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether this highway needs to be converted/upgraded into four
lanes to reduce traffic jams between Olavakkode and Chandranagar
and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to address all the above
issues?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)(a) & (b) The maintenance work for the stretch between Thanavu and
Olavakkode on NH-966 in Palakkad town was approved in December
2024 at an estimated cost of ₹34.90 lakh. Due to no response of
bidders, the tender was finalized in the fifth call. The work is
scheduled to commence shortly and is targeted for completion by
October 2025. A stretch of approximately 300 metres near Thanavu
Junction was excluded from the widening work of NH-966 from
Nattukal to Thanavu, which was completed in June, 2023, due to
inadequate Right of Way (ROW) to accommodate widening.
(c) & (d) A proposal for a four lane greenfield access controlled project
between Palakkad and Kozhikode, aimed at decongesting the existing
NH-966, is under consideration.
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