NH 66 construction in Kerala faces significant delays

The construction of the 29km NH 66 stretch from Kazhakkoottam to Kadampattukonam is progressing slowly, even after a new contractor, RKC Infrastructure Ltd, took over. Work is hindered by insufficient machinery and labor. Currently, the project is only 36% complete, the lowest among similar projects in Kerala. The previous contractor faced financial issues, leading to subcontracting. The National Highways Authority of India has set a 5% monthly progress requirement. The contractor has requested a six-month extension, moving the completion date to March 2026. This is a significant delay from the original January 2025 deadline. The project includes multiple infrastructure features and has an estimated cost of ₹990 crore.