Phase 2 of Vazhayila-Nedumangad Road Project to Begin October 22.

The second phase of the Vazhayila-Nedumangad road development project is set to begin on October 22, aiming to ease congestion, boost connectivity, and spur economic growth along this busy suburban corridor. The project forms part of the Thiruvananthapuram-Tenkasi interstate route.

This phase covers a 4-kilometer stretch from Keltron Junction at Karakulam to Valicode. Nearly 90% of the land acquisition for this segment is complete, with compensation already disbursed to 290 of the 317 affected landowners. The remaining payments are expected shortly. The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), the implementing agency, has allocated ₹294 crore for this reach.

Tamil Nadu-based KCP Infra Ltd won the construction contract as the lowest bidder among five firms. To manage traffic disruptions once construction begins, three district administration teams, alongside traffic police and wardens, will oversee traffic control. These teams will conduct field inspections soon, following directives from a high-level meeting chaired by Minister G R Anil, who is also the local MLA.

Meanwhile, work on the project’s first phase—from Vazhayila to Karakulam, including the Karakulam flyover—is progressing steadily, with approximately 50% construction completed. The first phase is expected to open to traffic by February 2026. The entire Vazhayila-Nedumangad corridor will be a 4-lane, 21-meter-wide road featuring a 15-meter carriageway, a 2-meter median, and 2-meter utility paths on both sides.

“Work on the first phase will be completed by February and the second by May,” said Anil, emphasizing close monitoring to avoid further delays.

Funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) and executed by KRFB under the public works department, the 12-kilometer project will replace the narrow, accident-prone road that has long hindered traffic toward Nedumangad and eastern suburbs. The upgraded corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time, improve safety, and facilitate smoother transport of goods toward Tamil Nadu via Tenkasi.

Preparations for the third phase, spanning Valicode to Pazhakutty in Nedumangad, are underway. Document verification for land acquisition is scheduled for October 27 and 28 in Nedumangad, after which tendering for construction will begin.

Despite earlier delays caused by land acquisition challenges, fund approvals, and alignment changes, the project is now advancing rapidly thanks to KIIFB funding and nearly completed compensation procedures. The upgraded road will enhance public transport connectivity and serve as a vital feeder route for traffic toward Nedumangad, Aryanad, Vithura, and Ponmudi, a prominent tourist destination in the region.