Hill Highway

The Thiruvananthapuram–Kasaragod Hill Highway or State Highway 59 (SH-59) is a proposed state highway in Kerala. Upon completion, it will be the longest highway in Kerala, extending from Nandarapadavu in Kasaragod district to Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram district, at a length of 1332.16 km. The highway will pass through 13 of the 14 districts, the exception being Alappuzha as that district is not part of the hilly ranges of Kerala.

The highway which is under early stages of construction would pass through areas including Bandadka, Malom, Chittarikkal, Cherupuzha, Alakode, Payyavoor, Ulikkal, Mananthavady, Kalpetta, Thiruvambady, Nilambur, Karuvarakundu, Pookkottumpadam, Edakkara, Palakkad, Pattikkad, Neriamangalam, Kattappana, Mundakayam, Erumely, Ranni, Konni, Koodal, Vazhathope, Pathanapuram, Punalur, Anchal, Kulathupuzha, Madathara, Palode, Vithura, Aryanadu, Vellarada etc. This highway will pass through 13 out of the 14 districts in Kerala state. Between Kannur and Malappuram districts, this highway will have two parallel routes, one through Wayanad district and another through Kozhikode district.

Development of highway-59 in Kerala is proposed in two phases. First phase involved selection of most feasible route between Kasaragod and Palakkad Districts. The National Transportation Planning and Research Centre(NATPAC) has already undertaken detailed investigation and finalised the alignment for Phase I of Hill Highway. Implementation of the same is in progress in the northern region of Kerala. In the second stage possible alternative routes for developing into Hill Highway between Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram Districts are identified. Field studies and environmental screening of the project were completed and NATPAC submitted the report to Government on 21-05-2009. Government have approved the alignment on 6-7-2009 and issued Government order vide GO (MS) No.44/2009/PWD dated 6-7-2009. It is also called as "Kerala's Spice route"