The move marks the end of free travel along this crucial route. Although the upgraded highway promises smoother, faster and safer journeys to the hill station, it will also increase costs for tourists and daily commuters.
“The NHAI has started constructing the toll booth at Kavalangad, near Oonnukal. This section connects Muvattupuzha with Neriamangalam and the hill regions. The common man will bear the brunt as private and KSRTC buses will pass on the cost to passengers. Many daily wage earners and farmers depend on this road,” said Joseph Thomas, a social activist.
NHAI officials confirmed that construction of the toll booth is progressing quickly, though toll collection will begin only after the completion of the entire 124-kilometre Kochi–Munnar section of the Kochi–Dhanushkodi NH 85.
“Earlier, the highway was only 5.5 to seven metres wide across many stretches. It has now been expanded to at least 10 metres wherever possible. Curve straightening and retaining walls are being added to reduce accidents and prevent landslides. Work is nearly complete, except for the 14.5-kilometre Neriamangalam–Valara section, where construction is on hold pending a court decision,” said a senior NHAI official.
The Rs 9.1 billion project, sanctioned in December 2022, focuses on widening the two-lane corridor from Kochi to Munnar. Once completed by March 2026, the upgraded highway will support speeds of up to 80 kmph. This will be the second toll plaza on the NH 85 stretch, after the one on the Munnar–Bodimettu section in Idukki district.
Meanwhile, attention has turned to the Kerala High Court, which is set to issue a verdict on whether land on the 14.5-kilometre Neriamangalam–Valara section qualifies as forest area. On 11 July, the court had halted construction citing the “forest land” dispute and lack of approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, following a petition filed by Idukki-based environmentalist M. N. Jayachandran.
The order triggered protests from local residents seeking a safer and wider road. In response, the state government submitted a fresh affidavit claiming the land is revenue land, not forest land — a clarification that could finally pave the way for completion of this critical stretch.
“The case is being heard tomorrow, and we expect a verdict. If the suspension continues, we’ll explore legal options. The project is vital for residents, particularly those in the highlands,” said P. M. Baby, Chairman of the National Highway Protection Council.
