National Highway 17 (India)

17 National Highway 17
Route information
Length:	1,269 km (789 mi)
Major junctions
From:	Panvel, Maharashtra
	NH 4 in Panvel NH 204 in Pali NH 4A in Panaji NH 17A in Cortalim NH 17B in Verna NH 63 in Ankola NH 13 in Mangalore NH 48 in Mangalore NH 212 in Kozhikode NH 213 in Ramanattukara NH 47C in Cheranelloor, Ernakulam in Kochi, NH 47 Edapally in Kochi.
To:	Edapally, Kochi, Kerala
Location
States:	Maharashtra: 482 km (300 mi) Goa: 139 km (86 mi) Karnataka: 280 km (170 mi) Kerala: 368 km (229 mi)
Primary destinations:	Panvel - Panaji - Udupi - Mangalore - Kannur - Kozhikode - Ponnani - Kochi
Highway system
Indian Road Network National Expressways State ← NH 16 NH 17A →

National Highway 17, commonly referred to as NH 17, now renumbered as NH 66, is a busy National Highway in India that runs roughly north–south along the western coast of India, parallel to western ghats. It connects Panvel (South of Mumbai city) to Kochi in Kerala, passing through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala. It is the 7th longest highway in India with a length of 1,296 km (805 mi).

The highway is going on a major overhaul in Karnataka, where the state government has accepted the NHAI's request of a 60-metre-wide national highway with grade separators. The complete stretch from the Goa border to the Kerala border is being upgraded to 60 metre, 4 lane highway. The highway is being designed for maintaining a speed of 100 km per hour. In some locations, the level of the highway was being raised while in some locations it was being lowered by cutting hills. It was to maintain uniformity in design for speed. There was demand for a narrower stretch from the general public, but the Karnataka government has not heeded to the public protests.

But, road widening in other states such as Kerala and Goa has not started and Kerala has requested for a narrower 45 metre stretch in the state. Initially Kerala demanded for a 30-metre-wide highway, but NHAI threatened to stop work in the state and concentrate on the other states.

Route

It starts at Panvel, at the junction of National Highway 4 (NH 4), and ends at Edappally in Kochi, at the junction of National Highway 47 (NH 47) in Kochi. NH-17 mainly traverses through the west coast of India, sometimes touching shores of Arabian sea. The NH17 touches the Arabian Sea at Maravanthe in Karnataka and Thalassery in Kerala. It passes through the Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.

The National Highway 17 connects cities and towns of different states as follows: Panvel, Mahad, Khed, Chiplun, Hatkhamba (Ratnagiri), Rajapur, Kankavli, Kudal, Sawantwadi, Panaji, Margao, Karwar, Kumta, Bhatkal, Kundapura, Udupi, Surathkal, Mangalore, Kasaragod, Taliparamba, Kannur, Thalassery, Vadakara, Kozhikode, Kottakkal, Ponnani, Kodungallur, North Paravur and Edappally in Kochi.

NH 66 includes the parts of old NH 47. Kochi to Kanyakumari stretch of old NH47 has been merged with the NH 66.

Road condition

The road is comparatively narrow and without dividers for most part. Lack of dividers has led to increased incidence of head-on collisions between vehicles. At some places, signboards indicating left or right turns, speed-breakers, etc. are either damaged or missing. In addition to its narrow span, there are no guard railings along the sides of the highway. The sides of the road are at times at a lower level compared to the road. Due to heavy human settlement around the highway and narrow span, the average speed on this highway is far lesser than compared to what can be attained on comparatively better highways such as NH3, NH4 or NH8. One can find carcasses of animals on the road, indicating the risk on inattentive animals coming in your way. Two-wheeler vehicles must take a special note of this. The road surface is uneven at certain stretches not just in rainy seasons, but even at other times.

At certain places in Karnataka, the surface is so badly damaged that the iron rods underneath are exposed. Presently, the work on widening this highway has been undertaken at certain stretches. Due to narrow span and lack of dividers, there are no separate lanes for oncoming traffic, driving and passing(over-taking). As a result, overtaking or passing is quite rampant. At times, motorists attempt over-taking even on curves where the oncoming traffic cannot be seen. Other motorists are advised to be on the look-out for such oncoming vehicles.

On 19 March 2013 a bus carrying over 50 persons fell off a bridge close to a river in Khed area of Ratnagiri district . 37 people lost their lives in the incident.

Complete stretch of NH 66 passing through State of Karnataka (around 296 km), is being widened and upgraded to 4-lane Highway. It is a major overhaul, in which certain bridges are being constructed as 6-lane bridges for smooth movement of traffic. The highway in the state of Karnataka is being upgraded to 60-metre-wide grade separated highway, in which vehicles can travel at speed of 100 km per hour. The widening work is going on in the complete stretch from the Goa border to the Kerala border. The stretch between Suratkal (NITK) to Kankanady cross (Mahavir Circle) has been already converted to four lane. The four lane between Surathkal and Coondaapur is under progress.

Connectivity

Prior to building of National Highway 17 (NH 17) in the 1960s and 1970s, ships and steamers running between Mumbai and Mangalore calling at different ports were only means of transport along the west coast of India adjoining the Arabian sea. These ship services was abandoned later. The NH 17 connects the interior parts of coastal regions with rest of the country. The NH 17 connects the major sea ports of West India, Mumbai, JNPT at Nhava Sheva, Mormugao (MPT), New Mangalore (NMPT), International Container Transshipment Terminal, Kochi & Ratnagiri Port.

Hence this National Highway 17 allows for movement of goods by trucks (lorries) from hinterland to major sea ports of India.The trade and commerce in the region has increased due to expansion of markets for agricultural and sea food produced in the region connected by this highway. The formation of NH 17 has led to development of tourism in the region connected by this highway. Goa state is classic example of this development. Many industries have been set up along National Highway 17 taking advantage of connectivity and proximity to sea ports on Arabian sea. The highway was the only source of connection between areas in the coastal districts, until the Konkan Railway was opened in 1998, between Mumbai and Mangalore.

Major cities and places on the highway

Maharashtra state

Panvel	Mahad	Lote	Navdi	Rajapur
Pen	Poladpur	Chiplun	Nivli	Kharepatan
Vadkhal	Kashedi	Kamathe	Hathkhamba	Tarale
Gadab	Bharana Naka	Savarda	Pali	Nandgaon
Nagothana	Khed	Aravli	Ratnagiri	Kankavli
Kolad	Asgani	Tural	Lanja	Kudal
Indapur	Asurde	Dhamani	Vanked	Vengurla
Mangaon	Parshuram	Sangameshwar	Oni	Sawantwadi

Goa state

NH-17 in Goa

Pernem	Mapusa	Panjim
Margao	Cuncolim	Canacona

Karnataka state

Uttara Kannada District

Karwar	Ankola	Kumta
Honnavar	Murudeshwara	Bhatkal

Dakshina Kannada (Udupi and Mangalore District)

NH-17 in Karnataka

Baindur	Bijjur	Maravanthe	Kundapura
Saligrama	Brahmavara	Udupi	Kapu
Mulki	Suratkal	Mangalore	Ullal

Kerala state

Kurchipalla	Manjeshwar	Uppala	Kumbala	Kasaragod
Kanhangad	Nileshwaram	Pilicode	Karivellur	Payyannur
Pariyaram	Taliparamba	Kalliasseri	Pappinisseri	Valapattanam
Chirakkal	Kannur	Chovva	Edakkad	Muzhappilangad
Thalassery	New Mahe Mahé, India	Mahe	Azhiyoor	Kannookkara
Onchiyam	Chorod	Nut Street	Vatakara	Payyoli
Thikkodi	Quilandy	Nandi	Kozhikode	Ramanattukara
Thenjipalam	Kottakkal	Valanchery	Kuttipuram Jn.	Ponnani
Guruvayur	Chavakkad	valapad	Vadanapilly	Thriprayar
Kodungallur	Varapuzha	Cheranelloor	Edapalli in Kochi	North Paravur Jn.

Lifestyle along NH 17

The NH 17 passes through hills, forests, rivers, rivulets, and streams, generally flowing westwards towards Arabian sea. Most of region has typical scene like coconut trees dotted all along with paddy fields and arecanut gardens. The road is uneven, bumps, curves, steep rises and narrow paths in between hillocks are found all over this highway. As this region experiences heavy rainfall, potholes are present occasionally.

Even though language spoken varies along the highway, food of the people along the NH17 has some common ingredients like Coconut, Chilli, Pepper, Coconut oil, Fish etc. The region has higher literacy rate as compared to other regions of India.^{[citation needed]} The building of National Highway 17 has led to rapid development of towns and cities along the highway.^{[citation needed]}

Major tourist attractions

• Alibaug-Interchange From Wadkhal Naka near Pen.
• Pali Ashtavinayak Mandir Interchange from Pen and Nagothane.
• Harihareshwar- Interchange From Mangaon.
• Pune From Palaspe Fata Panvel or Kolad /Mangaon.
• Raigad Fort Interchange From Mahad.
• Gandharpale caves on road in Mahad
• Mahabaleshwar, Wai, Panchgani Interchange from Poladpur.
• Dapoli Interchange from Bharne Naka Khed or Lonere Phata
• Guhagar Interchange from Chiplun.
• Karad Interchange from Bahadursheikh naka Chiplun.
• Devrukh, Marleshwar Interchange from Sangameshwar and Pali.
• Ganpatipule Interchange from Nivli.
• Ratnagiri Interchange from Hatkhamba. 13 kilometres. Rajapur 62 Kilometres ViaPawas
• Kolhapur Interchange From Pali83 km Aamba ghat, Oni via Pachal and Anuskura Ghat, Via Tarele and Gaganbavda ghat, via nandgaon and Phonda Ghat
• Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project Interchange near rajapur
• Vijaydurg Interchange from Kharepatan or Tarale
• Devgad Interchange from Nandgaon Titha
• Malvan Interchange from Kasal and Kudal
• Vengurla Interchange from Kudal and Sawantwadi
• Belgaum Interchange from Sawantwadi via Amboli
• Shilpa Gram Interchange from Sawantwadi towards Banda.
• Beaches of Goa through various interchanges in state of Goa.
• Gokarna interchange from Kumta.
• Kollur can be reached either from Byndoor or Kundapura.
• Maravanthe, where NH passes between sea and river, only such NH in India.
• Udupi on NH.
• Malpe beach Interchange from Udupi
• Manipal Interchange from Udupi
• Karwar
• Mangalore city
• Bekal Fort Interchange from Kasargod(18 km South) or Kanhangad(8 km North)
• Muzhappilangad Beach is alongside of NH 17.
• Kappad Beach
• Kozhikode city
• Guruvayur Temple
• Kodungallur Temple
• Munnar, Thekkadi Interchange from North Paravur, via Aluva, Perumbavoor

Languages spoken through NH 17

• Marathi
• Malvani
• Konkani
• Kannada
• Tulu
• Malayalam
• Nawayathi

New number

As part of the rationalization of highway numbering, this highway is assigned with the number NH 66. The segment of NH 47 from Kochi to Kanyakumari is merged with this highway, making it end at the southernmost point of India.

NH 17 at Maravanthe, Karnataka - NH between sea and river, only such NH in India

See also

• List of National Highways in India (by Highway Number)
• National Highways Development Project

External links

• NH 17 Map