New Highway, No Entry For Two-Wheelers: NH66 Rules Stir Concern (Image: X/sahilinfra2)

Kannur, Kerala: Two-wheelers will be prohibited from using the main carriageway of the six-lane National Highway 66 (NH66) in Kerala from now onwards.

As per current regulations applicable to expressways, two-wheelers are required to use designated service roads instead of the high-speed main highway.

However, the situation has sparked concern due to incomplete or missing service roads in several areas, especially near bypasses and bridges.

The restriction is part of a larger initiative aimed at improving safety and reducing accidents on high-speed expressways. Two-wheelers, which are more vulnerable in mixed traffic, are being directed to use parallel service roads wherever available.

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In many stretches of the NH66, particularly on the newly expanded Thalapady–Chengala corridor and bypass areas, the service roads are either under construction, inadequately developed, or non-existent.

Since there are no alternative routes or service roads crossing rivers, two-wheelers will be permitted to use the bridge segments of the main carriageway. Without this exception, many riders would be left without any viable route to cross water bodies.

A new proposal, currently under government review, aims to address the gaps in service road connectivity. It suggests allowing two-wheelers and other slow-moving vehicles to use the extreme left lane of the main highway in areas where service roads are unavailable.

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This plan could serve as a temporary solution to avoid complete disruption in commuting patterns, especially in areas where infrastructure development has not kept pace with highway expansion.

The original plan for NH66 included a 60-metre-wide corridor to accommodate six main lanes and service roads on both sides.

However, the available width has now been reduced to 45 metres in many areas. This limitation has severely affected the scope for constructing wide, continuous service roads, creating bottlenecks for two-wheeler users and local traffic.

Each service road is designed to be 6.75 metres wide, supporting two-way traffic. These roads are being built with covered drainage slabs, which will also function as part of the road surface. Despite this, there are no separate lanes specifically marked for two-wheelers.

Also, there will be no dedicated bus bays along the service roads. Instead, 77 compact bus shelters (measuring 4.5m x 1.8m) will be placed on 2-metre-wide footpaths along the 39-km Thalapady–Chengala stretch.

Dedicated ramps, each 24 metres wide, are being constructed to allow vehicles to safely enter and exit the highway. These ramps will be staggered, meaning entry and exit points will be located separately to avoid congestion.

(With inputs from Mathrubhumi)