Idukki will soon get two national highways, NH 185 and NH 183A, for which administrative sanction has been received.
NH 185 will connect Adimali to Kumily linking the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway (old NH 49) and the Kollam-Theni National Highway (old NH 183).
This will connect Keerithodu, Painavu, Anavilasam, Kattappana, and Kumaly — a stretch of 96 kilometres, said Joice George, MP, here on Tuesday.
Important factor
An important factor in the road connectivity network is that it would be a link to the district headquarters at Painavu, which is near to Cherurthoni, he said.
Easy connectivity
The tourism prospects of Cheuthoni, which is topographically in the centre between Munnar and Thekkady, will have easy connectivity, he said, adding there would not be major land acquisition for it.
The present road will be widened and extended and bitumen macadam and bitumen concrete (BMBC) will soon begin, for which Rs.50 crore has been sanctioned under a Rs.376-crore road development project for the district.
NH 183A will connect the Mundakkayam-Vandiperiyar stretch in the district and is extended to Pathanamthitta.
Road widening
An amount of Rs.250 crore was sanctioned for widening the old NH 49 for a stretch of 42 kilometres from Bodimettu on the border with Tamil Nadu to Devikulam via Poopara and Santhanpara.
There will be land acquisition to the minimum, and the stretch will be maintained to keep it with the national standard.
Three bridges on the old NH 49 in Munnar will be renovated.
They are at Police Station, Pipeline and Moolathara.
A preliminary survey will also be conducted for the Muvattupuzha-Kothamangalam by pass road, he added.
Land acquisition to be minimum and stretch to be maintained well.