Main Eastern Highway

State 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
  Pathanapuram, Konni, Ranni, Manimala, Ponkunnam, Pala, Thodupuzha.
To: Muvattupuzha, Eranakulam district, Kerala.
Location
Districts: Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam
Primary
destinations:
Pathanamthitta, Pala
Highway system
Ghat section of The Main Eastern Highway
Pathanamthitta town is on The Main Eastern Highway
A sign-board that indicates the direction to Sabarimala. The multilingual board is written in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu language and English language
Large rubber plantations are generally seen along the Main Eastern Highway
A journey through The Main Eastern Highway is a refreshing experience

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, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi. 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, Pathanamthitta, Ranni, Manimala, Ponkunnam, Pala, Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha comes under the Main eastern highway road

References

See also

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