NHAI Invites Bids for ₹13.35 Crore Lighting Project Between Kazhakkootam and Karode.

After years of uncertainty, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited bids for installing a comprehensive highway lighting system along the 41.2-km Kazhakkoottam-Karode stretch of NH 66, covering the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border corridor.

The ₹13.35 crore project aims to improve night-time visibility and enhance road safety on one of Kerala’s busiest national highway sections. According to the tender document issued by the NHAI regional office, the project is scheduled to be completed within six months, followed by a 60-month defect liability period.

The contract involves providing a complete lighting system for the four-lane Thiruvananthapuram bypass section of NH 66 between Kazhakkoottam and Karode, which currently lacks lighting facilities on the median.

The proposed works include installation of 2,232 single-arm poles and 1,033 double-arm poles, LED luminaires, feeder pillars, underground cabling, earthing systems, foundations, trenching, backfilling and other associated civil and electrical works. The LED lighting system has been specified to provide a minimum illumination level of 40 lux.

As per the bid schedule, contractors can download tender documents until August 13 and submit online bids by the same date. Technical bids will be opened on August 14, while financial bids of qualified bidders will be considered at a later stage. A pre-bid meeting has also been scheduled at the NHAI regional office in Thiruvananthapuram.

A senior NHAI official said the project would significantly improve safety for motorists using the bypass, especially during night hours and adverse weather conditions.

“ The Kazhakkoottam-Karode section carries heavy traffic, including long-distance passenger and freight vehicles. The installation of a modern LED highway lighting system will improve visibility, enhance driving comfort and reduce the risk of accidents at night. We expect to complete the work within the stipulated six-month period after the contract is awarded,” the official said.

The lighting project is part of broader efforts to strengthen safety infrastructure on NH 66, which is undergoing phased widening and modernisation across Kerala.