Fri Feb 28 12:40:51 UTC 2025: ## Kerala MP Demands Safety Upgrades on NH 66 Amidst Construction-Related Accidents

**Alappuzha, Kerala – February 28, 2025** – A surge in accidents on the Aroor-Thuravoor stretch of National Highway 66 in Alappuzha, Kerala, has prompted MP K.C. Venugopal to call for urgent safety improvements. Construction of a 12.75-km elevated highway is blamed for the increased traffic chaos and resulting accidents, which have claimed several lives in recent months.

Venugopal has written to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Kerala Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, urging them to take immediate action. He highlighted a lack of public awareness and insufficient safety measures within the construction zone as primary causes.

The MP’s proposed solutions include enhanced signage and warning systems, improved nighttime visibility through additional lighting and reflectors, and the implementation of speed-monitoring mechanisms like speed cameras and increased traffic personnel. He also advocated for public awareness campaigns, temporary service roads, and clear demarcation of the construction zone with barricades.

Further, during a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport and Tourism meeting, Venugopal raised concerns about the disruption to the Kerala Water Authority’s water distribution due to the highway construction and demanded the construction of underpasses at three key locations along NH 66: Puthantheruvu, Payalkungara, and S.N. Kavala. The MP’s strong advocacy underscores the growing urgency to address the safety crisis on this crucial highway stretch.

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