Parliament Question: Upgradation of Existing Roads as National Highways in Kerala

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 266 ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2026 UPPGRADATION OF EXISTING ROADS AS NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN KERALA *266. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) the details of proposals for declaration of new National Highways and upgradation of existing roads as National Highways received from the State Government of Kerala during the last five years, proposal- wise; (b) the present status of each proposal indicating whether approved, under examination, returned for clarification or rejected along with the reasons therefor; (c) whether the Ministry has examined the report submitted by the State Government of Kerala regarding new National Highway proposals in the State and if so, the details of the decisions taken thereon; (d) the criteria adopted by the Government for declaring new National Highways and the extent to which the proposals submitted by the State Government of Kerala satisfy these criteria; and (e) the timeline proposed for taking a final decision on the pending National Highway proposals submitted by the State Government of Kerala? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 266 ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH REGARDING „UPPGRADATION OF EXISTING ROADS AS NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN KERALA‟: (a) to (e) The Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways receives proposals from State Governments and Union Territory Administrations including the State of Kerala from time to time for declaration of State roads, as new National Highways. State roads are declared as National Highways (NHs) from time to time on the basis of well-established broad principles, including: - i. Connecting adjacent countries, National Capital with State Capitals / one State Capital to another State Capital, major ports and ports prioritised for development by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, large industrial centers or tourist centers. ii. Roads having important strategic requirements. iii. Arterial roads which enable sizeable reduction in travel distance and achieve substantial economic growth. iv. Roads which help in opening up large tracts of backward area and hilly region. v. Synergy with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP). Length of NH network in the State of Kerala is about 1,858 km at present. Government has notified 76 km of State Roads / greenfield stretches as NHs in the State of Kerala during the last five years and current year. The Government has received a list of 27 State Roads for declaration as National Highway, from the State Government of Kerala during the last five years. However, currently these are not under consideration. Besides there are 10 Greenfield projects envisaged for implementation by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI),which will form part of the NH network in the State on their approval. Details of Greenfield projects are at Annexure.ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 266 ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH REGARDING “UPGRADATION OF EXISTING ROADS AS NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN KERALA” Sr. District Name of Project Type of Work No (Widening/ . Bypass/ Flyover etc.) 1 Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram Greenfield National ORR Highway 2 Ernakulam Cochin Outer Ring Greenfield National Road (Angamaly - Highway Aroor) 3 Kollam & Kollam Shenkottah Greenfield National Thiruvananthapuram Greenfield Project NH Highway 744 4 Palakkad, Palakkad - Kozhikode Greenfield National Malappuram & Greenfield Highway Highway Kozhikode 5 Ernakulam Willingdon Island - Greenfield Highway Aroor 6 Kannur Azhikkal Port to NH 66 Port Connectivity 7 Ernakulam Kothamangalam & Standalone bypass Muvattupuzha Bypass 8 Kollam Punalur Bypass Standalone bypass 9 Kozhikode Calicut Airport Airport connectivity to NH Connectivity 66/NH 966 10 Kannur Kannur Airport Airport connectivity to NH 66 Connectivity *****