With the south-west monsoon just weeks away, the Aroor–Thuravoor six-lane elevated highway project in Kerala is grappling with a critical delay in completing its stormwater drainage system—jeopardising not just construction timelines but also public safety.
The 12.75-km-long highway stretch, which is currently 65 percent complete, has been caught in an escalating dispute between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and local governance bodies. The highway, which began construction in 2023, has seen the erection of over 200 out of a proposed 374 pillars. However, lack of approvals from grama panchayats along the corridor has impeded the finalisation of essential drainage outlets—critical for preventing waterlogging during the upcoming rains. The NHAI has formally approached the district administration, highlighting repeated denials from local panchayats to permit the creation of drainage connections to nearby water bodies and canals. In a strongly-worded communication to the district collector, the authority has sought urgent intervention to approve the plan, which includes connecting stormwater drains to identified outfall locations.
Officials from the highway authority contend that despite multiple rounds of engagement, the Aroor, Ezhupunna, Kodamthuruth, and Kuthiathode panchayats have withheld consent, citing lack of viable outfall systems and community resistance. “There is no existing outlet for the collected stormwater. Without a proper outlet, we are forced to construct drains on roads under panchayat control. If this is not resolved soon, the situation may lead to severe flooding, especially during monsoon,” said a senior official from the NHAI. Meanwhile, representatives from the concerned panchayats argue that most local water bodies have already been filled in for developmental activities over recent decades. In Kodamthuruth, officials stated that only a narrow canal remains, insufficient to carry stormwater discharged from the highway. Community members, already vulnerable to seasonal flooding, have voiced concerns over the proposed plan worsening water stagnation in residential pockets.
Local governance representatives have suggested an alternative that involves the NHAI laying a longer pipe—over 150 metres—to divert stormwater to the Kuthiathode backwaters, a natural outfall. However, NHAI has reportedly declined this due to high costs and technical infeasibility. In Ward 13 of Aroor panchayat, residents have staged multiple protests against the proposed drainage connections, fearing inundation. Panchayat leaders claim that the highway authority has failed to present an adequate flood mitigation study or address public safety concerns. “We have insisted that the NHAI revisit the drainage design after consulting local residents and factoring in ecological sustainability,” said one elected representative.
What has further aggravated the situation is the slow response from state agencies. According to NHAI sources, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has inflated its project cost estimates for drainage pipelines—from an initial ₹7 crore to a staggering ₹20 crore—without providing clarity. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has also reportedly delayed energising key infrastructure that supports the highway’s lighting and utilities. The prolonged standoff and resulting construction bottlenecks have had a tangible impact on public mobility. The existing road, flanked by the elevated corridor construction, is severely damaged and riddled with potholes. Commuters navigating the stretch face daily hazards, with travel times nearly doubling in peak hours. Since work began, the stretch has witnessed at least 36 fatalities in road accidents—a grim statistic that underscores the high cost of infrastructural negligence.
Earlier this year, the Kerala High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the unsafe travel conditions along this corridor. The court had sought detailed reports from both NHAI and the district administration while questioning the lack of inter-agency coordination in executing a public infrastructure project of such scale. Despite judicial scrutiny and continued public outcry, the impasse shows no signs of resolution. With the project racing toward its targeted completion in January 2026, the failure to resolve drainage connectivity could result in further delays and budget escalations. More critically, if water stagnation is not prevented, the monsoon could compound the region’s civic woes through flash floods, road collapses, and further traffic chaos.
Experts warn that such disputes are symptomatic of a deeper urban governance crisis where infrastructure development outpaces local environmental capacity. A senior urban planner familiar with the project suggested that both NHAI and local panchayats need to adopt an integrated approach. “Stormwater management cannot be an afterthought. Drainage systems must be planned with local topography, hydrology, and social acceptability in mind. Any project ignoring these fundamentals will only multiply climate-related vulnerabilities.” In a region frequently affected by extreme rainfall and flooding, the failure to implement a sustainable and community-sensitive drainage solution highlights the urgent need for better alignment between central and local agencies. As monsoon clouds gather, the people of Aroor to Thuravoor can only hope that governance clarity arrives before the rains do.
Also Read : Kanpur Agra Metro Tracks Sustainable Shift
