Members of the National Road Protection Board protested at Adimala on Saturday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The National Highway Protection Council (NHPC) staged a protest at Adimaly in Idukki on Saturday, demanding immediate resumption of construction on the 14.5-km Neriamangalam-Valara stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway. The protest was started by Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose.
Work on the key stretch remained suspended from July 2025 following an order by the Kerala High Court restricting road widening and felling of trees. The stay was issued in response to a petition filed by environmentalist MN Jayachandran from Idukki.
Though the state government recently submitted a fresh affidavit prompting the court to direct the chief secretary to issue orders to resume construction, the NHPC claimed that the directive was yet to be implemented.
“The court directed the chief secretary to facilitate the resumption of work on this 14.5 kilometer stretch,” said Rasak Chooravelil, NHPC CEO. “However, the necessary order has not yet been issued. We urge the government to intervene immediately. The order should be signed before issuing the notification for the upcoming assembly elections,” he said.
Describing the current condition of the road as “pathetic”, Mr Chooravelil said movement of vehicles was becoming increasingly difficult. The Neriamangalam–Valara section serves as the main artery for passengers heading to Munnar Hill station. The narrow road, sharp turns and frequent falling trees pose serious safety risks for tourists and daily commuters alike. On weekends and holidays, the section is known for several hours of traffic jams.
The delay in construction turned out to be a major political flashpoint in Idukki, with both the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the NHPC staging a series of protests to compel the government to take action.
Devikulam MLA A. Raja said road widening and tarring work on the Neriamangalam–Valara stretch is expected to begin soon.
Published – 14 Feb 2026 19:57 IST