**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 3154 in Lok Sabha, answered on December 18th, 2025, regarding the status of National Highway (NH)-66 development projects in Kasaragod, India. It addresses delays and completion timelines for widening, service roads, and drainage components. Several projects have either received provisional completion certificates (PCC) or have revised scheduled completion dates of June 30, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Status (as of December 18th, 2025):**
* **Thalapady-Chengala (39 Km):** Provisional Completion Certificate (PCC) issued on 25.08.2025.
* **Chengala-Neeleshwaram (37.3 Km):** Revised Scheduled date of Completion is 30.06.2026.
* **Neeleshwaram ROB (0.78 Km):** PCC issued on 19.07.2023.
* **Neeleshwaram-Thaliparambha (40.1 Km):** Revised Scheduled date of Completion is 30.06.2026; Physical progress: - 84%.
* **Reasons for Delays:**
* Land acquisition issues
* Delays in pre-construction activities
* Financial difficulties faced by contractors
* Force-majeure events
* Scarcity of construction materials
* **Government Initiatives to Expedite Project Completion:**
* Streamlining land acquisition via Bhoomi Rashi portal.
* Revamping Parivesh Portal for faster forest and environmental clearances.
* Enabling online approval of General Arrangement Drawings (GADs).
* Conducting review meetings with stakeholders, including State Governments.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing the completion of NH-66 projects and addressing issues causing delays.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing initiatives to expedite project execution and ensure timely completion.
**Stakeholder: Contractors**
* **Impact:** Expected to complete the projects as per the revised schedule, overcoming financial and logistical challenges.
* **Action Required:** Address financial difficulties, manage resources effectively, and coordinate with relevant authorities to resolve land acquisition and clearance issues.
**Stakeholder: Local Population/Citizens**
* **Impact:** Affected by the progress of the highway development, including improved infrastructure and potential disruptions.
* **Action Required:** Cooperate with authorities during land acquisition and construction phases.
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact:** Required to collaborate with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and provide support for land acquisition and project clearances.
* **Action Required:** Participate in review meetings, address local issues affecting project progress, and facilitate necessary approvals.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highway (NH)-66: The highway that is the subject of the parliamentary question regarding its widening and development in Kasaragod.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways, including NH-66.
Kasaragod: The district in Kerala where the widening and development of NH-66 is taking place and facing delays.
Bhoomi Rashi portal: Portal for streamlining and expediting the land acquisition process.
Parivesh Portal: Portal for faster forest and environmental clearances.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3154
ANSWERED ON 18TH DECEMBER, 2025
NH-66 IN KASARAGOD
3154. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether widening, service-road and drainage components of
National Highway (NH)-66 in Kasaragod remain incomplete, if so,
the details thereof;
(b) the reasons for delays relating to land acquisition, utility
shifting or contractor performance; and
(c) the revised construction timeline, penalty measures and
deadline for completion?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) & (c) In the district of Kasaragod, following projects for the
development of National Highway (NH)-66 have been taken up:
Project Name Length in Status
Km
Thalapady-Chengala 39 Provisional Completion Certificate
(PCC) issued on 25.08.2025
Chengala- 37.3 Revised Scheduled date ofNeeleshwaram Completion is 30.06.2026
- Physical progress: - 83%
Neeleshwaram ROB 0.78 PCC issued on 19.07.2023.
Neeleshwaram- 40.1 Revised Scheduled date of
Thaliparambha Completion is 30.06.2026
Physical progress: - 84%
In the completed stretches, major components such as
widening, Service Roads and drainage have been substantially
executed. In the ongoing stretches, these components are in
different stages of progress and is targeted for completion as per
the revised Schedule of Completion.
(b) Various factors such as issues related to land acquisition,
delays in pre-construction activities, financial difficulties faced by
contractors, force-majeure events, and scarcity of construction
materials etc. have resulted in delays and cost overrun in certain
projects.
To overcome these challenges and expedite project execution,
various initiatives have been undertaken. These include
streamlining and expediting the land acquisition process through
Bhoomi Rashi portal, revamping the Parivesh Portal to facilitate
faster forest and environmental clearances, enabling online
approval of General Arrangement Drawings (GADs) for Road over
Bridges (ROBs) and Road under Bridges (RUBs) from the Railways,
and conducting review meetings at various levels with all
stakeholders, including State Governments. The Government is
taking all necessary steps for timely completion of these projects.
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