Main Eastern Highway
 8
| |
|---|---|
| Main Eastern Highway | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by Kerala Public Works Department | |
| Length: | 153.6 km (95.4 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| From: | Punalur, Kollam district, Kerala |
| Konni, Ranni, Manimala, Ponkunnam, Pala, Thodupuzha | |
| To: | Muvattupuzha, Eranakulam district, Kerala. |
| Location | |
| Districts: | Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam |
| Primary destinations: | Pathanamthitta, Pala |
| Highway system | |
The Main Eastern Highway is the life line of the high range townships of the Travancore region of Kerala state, India. It is also known as Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Thodupuzha-Muvattupuzha Highway. Main Eastern Highway is categorized as State Highway - 08 ( SH-08 ) of Kerala. It is the second longest State Highway of Kerala covering a distance of 153.6 km. The districts it passes through are Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam.
It interconnects the townships of Punalur, Pathanapuram, Konni, Pathanamthitta, Ranni, Manimala, Ponkunnam, Pala, Thodupuzha to the main intersection at Muvattupuzha merging to MC Road which extends northwards till Angamaly.
The Route map
Punalur (starts from Km 44/900 of NH 208) - Pallimukku(TB) junction (joins SH 05) - Koodal junction - Konni junction - Kumbazha Jn Pathanamthitta (meets T.K.Road / SH - 07) Ranni market - Makkapuzha - Ponthanpuzha - Manimala bridge - Cheruvally - Ponkunnam junction (Kottayam - Kumily road (NH 220) crosses and overlaps for 0.4 km) - Elamgulam - Pala town - Thodupuzha - Vazhakulam - Nirmala College junction - Muvattupuzha (joins MC Road -SH 01)
The Significance
The economy of the High-Ranges of South and Central Kerala largely depends on the Main Eastern Highway. The main trunk road to Sabarimala, Kerala's Largest Pilgrim Centre starts from Main Eastern Highway near Pathanamthitta. Though it is the shortest route to Thrissur and Northern Kerala townships from Punalur, (the hill town of Kollam District) and in turn from the Tamil Nadu townships Tenkasi and Tirunelveli, it is not developed to its capacity. It acts as a parallel road to the Main Central Road. (M.C.Road/SH-01). It is also the Shortest route to the Kerala State Capital Thiruvananthapuram from Kumali and other major townships of Idukki district viz Kattappana, Thodupuzha etc.
KSTP Project
The upgrading work of Punalur -Ponkunnam-Thodupuzha stretch is currently under progress as part of the World Bank funded Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).[1]
Districts connected by Main Eastern Highway
The districts Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam are connected by Main eastern highway or SH8.
Townships on the Main Eastern Highway
The townships Punalur , Pathanapuram, Konni ,Kumbazha, Mylapra, Ranni ,Manimala, Ponkunnam, Pala, Thodupuzha,Vazhakulam, Muvattupuzha comes under the Main eastern highway road