Four Laning of NH 47 Will ease Traffic

Though visitors from all over the world are attracted to the State of Kerala by its rich heritage, natural beauty and cultural diversity, a black mark in Kerala is the poor road condition, which is the cause of a high percentage of deaths in Kerala. People from outside Kerala, and those living in Kerala, dread travelling by road, especially, after the rainy season, because there is much possibility of body aches, back pains and above all accidents. Kerala known as God’s own country, has a good network of roads, but the pathetic road conditions are mainly because of lack of proper maintenance before the monsoon season,. 
But now there is a ray of hope in every Keralites mind with the proposed project for four laning of NH 47 in Kerala. This project will make traveling safer, healthier and very comfortable.

The four laning of NH 47 will be a boon to travelers inside Kerala and from outside Kerala. The NH 47 enters the State of Kerala from Tamil Nadu at Walayar, leaving Kerala at Kalliyikavilla in Thiruvanthapuram District, and according to the phase II of the National Highways Development Project, the proposal to four laning of the NH 47 between walayar and Vadakkancherry. Hundreds of students, office-goers and business men travel daily between Kerala and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Apart from this, Kerala being a consumer State, we get quite a number of items from Tamil Nadu. Traveling through Walayar, a check post, which separates the two State’s is sometimes miserable as travelers are sometimes forced to spend hours at this check post due to lorry traffic and the four laning of the NH 47 from here will provide a great relief to the travelers.

On the 21st July 2011, the Union Government gave the nod for the approval for laning of the 54km long section between Walayar and Vadakkancherry on the National Highway 47. This will improve the transport infrastructure of Kerala State making it convenient and also reducing the time and cost of traveling between these two sections for the people. The estimated cost for this four laning of NH 47 is around 785.26 crores under the DBFOT (Design, Built, Finance, Operate and Transfer) Pattern. The project will provide employment for hundreds of laborers and increase the overall economic status of this State.

At present there is a four lane section between Aroor and Cherthala, and since the bidding is still in progress, the four laning of NH 47 between Walayar and Vadakkancherry will take some time.