# Alappuzha Bypass

Alappuzha Bypass is a part of NH 66 that bypasses CBD of Alappuzha city in Kerala, India. The 6.8 km long two lane bypass is the first and longest elevated beach highway in the country, starting at Kalarcode in the south to Kommady in the north. It runs along the scenic beachside of Alappuzha City. It is a joint venture (50:50) between the central and state governments. The contractor for the project was RDS-CVCC, which is a joint venture. The same joint venture was responsible for Kollam Bypass project which was inaugurated in 2019 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. CVCC executed Kollam Bypass and RDS construction company completed the Alappuzha bypass in 2020. This was the first bypass project in the state of Kerala but the construction was delayed by 40 years.
The Central government contributed Rs 185 crores and the State government Rs 250 crores for the project . The bypass is under Thuravoor Thekku - Paravur stretch of National highway widening project. As a part of six laning of national highway 66, a two lane elevated bridge parallel to the existing elevated bridge is under construction.

## History

The necessities and proposals for a bypass at Alappuzha dates back to the early 1980s. NH 66 is one of the longest national highways in India stretching from Panvel to Kanyakumari and criss-crosses through Alappuzha city centre. The highway gets more and more narrower as it enters the urban area, and together with the criss-cross transformation, creates no less than a bustle inside the city centre. Since then it had been a long time plea to reroute the national highway around the downtown.

### Timeline

| Year | Events |
| 1980 | Early proposals for constructing NH Bypass road at Alappuzha. |
| 1980 | The revenue department had acquired land for the bypass. |
| 2008 | Alappuzha bypass was included as a part of the project of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). |
| 2010 | Centre had announced that the bypass project would be completed as a special project. |
| 2015 | Union transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the long-pending construction works of the Alappuzha bypass from Kommadi to Kalarkode. |
| 2017 | Delay in fund allocation and public protest put off the proposed completion by September 2017. |
| 2018 | Indian Railways declined approval for constructing the two ROBs at Malikamukku and Kuthirapanthy. |
| 2020 | Indian Railways granted permission to place girders at Malikamukku in January 2020. |
| 2020 | Following to Malikamukku, Indian Railways nods to place girders at Kuthirapanthy in June 2020. |
| 2021 | Alappuzha Bypass inaugurated on 28 January by Nitin Gadkari (Central Road Transport Minister), and Pinarayi Vijayan (Chief Minister of Kerala). |

## Project specifications

Project Specifications :
| Project Title | Alappuzha Bypass |
| Type | Elevated Beach Highway |
| Total Distance | 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi) |
| Construction Mode | Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) |
| Contractor | Cherian Varkey Construction Company-RDS (JV), Kochi |
| South End | Kalarcode |
| North End | Kommady |
| ROBs | 2 (Malikamukku & Kuthirapanthy) |
| Underpass | — |
| Major Bridges | — |
| No of Pilings | — |
| Piers | — |
| Culverts | — |
| Project Cost | ₹348.43 crore (US$40 million) |

## Gallery

* Aerial View
* Aerial View
* Alappuzha Bypass road (June 2023)