Alappuzha Bypass

Alappuzha Bypass is a part of NH 66 that bypasses CBD of Alappuzha city in Kerala, India. The 6.8 km long two lane bypass is the first and longest elevated beach highway in the country, starting at Kalarcode in the south to Kommady in the north. It runs along the scenic beachside of Alappuzha City. It is a joint venture (50:50) between the central and state governments.^[1] The contractor for the project was RDS-CVCC, which is a joint venture. The same joint venture was responsible for Kollam Bypass project which was inaugurated in 2019 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. CVCC executed Kollam Bypass and RDS construction company completed the Alappuzha bypass in 2020. This was the first bypass project in the state of Kerala but the construction was delayed by 40 years.

Alappuzha Bypass
Street view of Alappuzha bypass.
Route information
Maintained by NHAI
Length	6.8 km (4.2 mi)
Existed	28 January 2021 (2021-01-28)–present
Major junctions
South end	NH-66 in Kalarcode
North end	NH-66 in Kommady
Location
Country	India
Major cities	Alappuzha
Highway system
Roads in India Expressways National State Asian

The Central government contributed Rs 185 crores and the State government Rs 250 crores for the project . ^[2] The bypass is under Thuravoor Thekku - Paravur stretch of National highway widening project. As a part of six laning of national highway 66, a two lane elevated bridge parallel to the existing elevated bridge is under construction.

History

The necessities and proposals for a bypass at Alappuzha dates back to the early 1980s. NH 66 is one of the longest national highways in India stretching from Panvel to Kanyakumari and criss-crosses through Alappuzha city centre. The highway gets more and more narrower as it enters the urban area, and together with the criss-cross transformation, creates no less than a bustle inside the city centre. Since then it had been a long time plea to reroute the national highway around the downtown.^{[citation needed]}

Timeline

Year	Events
1980	Early proposals for constructing NH Bypass road at Alappuzha.
1980	The revenue department had acquired land for the bypass.
2008	Alappuzha bypass was included as a part of the project of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
2010	Centre had announced that the bypass project would be completed as a special project.
2015	Union transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the long-pending construction works of the Alappuzha bypass from Kommadi to Kalarkode.
2017	Delay in fund allocation and public protest put off the proposed completion by September 2017.
2018	Indian Railways declined approval for constructing the two ROBs at Malikamukku and Kuthirapanthy.
2020	Indian Railways granted permission to place girders at Malikamukku in January 2020.
2020	Following to Malikamukku, Indian Railways nods to place girders at Kuthirapanthy in June 2020.
2021	Alappuzha Bypass inaugurated on 28 January by Nitin Gadkari (Central Road Transport Minister), and Pinarayi Vijayan (Chief Minister of Kerala).

Project specifications

Project Specifications
Project Title	Alappuzha Bypass
Type	Elevated Beach Highway
Total Distance	6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi)
Construction Mode	Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC)
Contractor	Cherian Varkey Construction Company-RDS (JV), Kochi
South End	Kalarcode
North End	Kommady
ROBs	2 (Malikamukku & Kuthirapanthy)
Underpass	—
Major Bridges	—
No of Pilings	—
Piers	—
Culverts	—
Project Cost	₹348.43 crore (US$41 million)

Gallery

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  Aerial View
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  Aerial View
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  Alappuzha Bypass road (June 2023)

See also

• Roads portal

• Alappuzha
• Alappuzha District
• List of national highways in India by state
• List of state highways in Kerala
• National highways in India
• Roads in India
• Roads in Kerala