On August 1, hundreds of residents in Kayamkulam, Kerala, organised a massive human chain to protest against the National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) plan to widen NH-66 without considering the sustainable survival of the local population. The protest drew people from all walks of life—businessmen, students, working professionals, politicians, and activists—united in their demand for an elevated pillared flyover at one of the town’s busiest junctions.
The residents argue that the current widening plan would effectively split the city into two, creating a physical divide between the east and west. This, they believe, would have a devastating impact on Kayamkulam’s ancient market and city center, which have long been the heart of the community. The city, one of Kerala’s oldest mercantile hubs, relies heavily on this central area for commerce and daily life.
Locals fear that the division caused by the highway expansion would severely disrupt their lives, cutting off essential connections within the city. The protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations that have been ongoing for over a year.
Congress MP KC Venugopal recently brought the issue to Parliament, advocating for a more thoughtful design that would protect Kerala’s cities during the highway expansion. Venugopal has also met with Minister Nitin Gadkari and NHAI officials to discuss potential solutions.
