Fri Feb 28 12:40:51 UTC 2025: ## Kerala MP Demands Action After Deadly NH 66 Construction Causes Traffic Chaos

**ALAPPUZHA, Kerala (February 28, 2025)** – A surge in accidents on the Aroor-Thuravoor stretch of National Highway 66 (NH 66) in Alappuzha, Kerala, has prompted MP K.C. Venugopal to demand urgent safety improvements. Construction of a 12.75-km elevated highway is blamed for the escalating traffic chaos and numerous fatalities 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 immediate action. He highlighted a lack of public awareness and inadequate safety measures within the construction zone as primary causes.

The MP’s proposed solutions include enhanced signage and warning systems, stricter speed regulation, improved nighttime visibility (through reflectors, blinking lights, and additional lighting), and speed-monitoring mechanisms such as speed cameras and increased traffic personnel. He also advocated for public awareness campaigns, the creation of temporary service roads, and the installation of barricades to clearly separate the construction area from active traffic lanes.

Further, during a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport and Tourism meeting, Venugopal raised concerns about the disruptions to the Kerala Water Authority’s water distribution network caused by the highway construction. He also pressed for the construction of underpasses at Puthantheruvu, Payalkungara, and S.N. Kavala along NH 66 to alleviate traffic congestion. The escalating situation underscores the urgent need for improved safety measures on this vital highway stretch.

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