The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the comprehensive development of the Kadambattukonam-Senkottai National Highway 744, with a massive estimated outlay of ₹21,000 crore, has been submitted to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for final approval following rigorous technical reviews, N.K. Premachandran, MP, has said after a high-level discussions in New Delhi.
The ₹21,000-crore mega infrastructure project spans three key reaches, two of which run through Kerala. These include the second reach connecting Senkottai to Edamon and the third reach stretching from Edamon to Kadambattukonam, while the first reach from Rajapalayam to Senkottai is located in Tamil Nadu. “A minor portion of the alignment running through the second reach required environmental clearance, and the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the same have already been officially approved,” said the MP.
The 23-km Senkottai-Edamon section is estimated to cost ₹10,033 crore and features a highly sophisticated alignment designed to bypass steep gradients and sharp, treacherous curves. To minimise environmental and ecological impact on the surrounding forest land, the alignment includes four major tunnels passing through rocky terrain, covering a combined distance of 10.5 km. Additionally, the blueprint for this segment incorporates elevated highways built across twenty massive pillars.
The third reach, covering the 39-km distance from Edamon to Kadambattukonam, has an estimated budget of ₹7,015 crore. Recognising the unique soil characteristics and terrain topography, engineers have planned 26 viaducts for this stretch. This strategic structural shift was decided after analysing previous safety hazards where heavy soil filling and earthen retaining walls led to severe landslides. To guarantee long-term safety, elevated pillar structures will be constructed in all areas where the soil quality is deemed weak.
The engineering design of the project is currently set to undergo close scrutiny by the Project Appraisal Technical Committee. Once their technical recommendations are integrated, the finalised draft will be forwarded to the Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC), a panel chaired by the Secretary of Economic Affairs and comprising the Secretaries of Law, Expenditure, Road Transport and Highways, along with the CEO of NITI Aayog. Upon receiving the definitive recommendation from the PPPAC, the project will be presented to the Union Cabinet for final administrative sanction.