National Highway 744 (India)

This route has historically connected the cashew and spice producing Kollam District with the erstwhile Madras State. Nowadays, hordes of lorries carrying various goods from Tamil Nadu ply through this highway. The road cuts through the narrow low altitude gap at Aryankavu, and is a visual delight, especially the stretch from Thenmala to Sengottai. The historic Kollam-Sengottai Railway line goes by the side of the road.^[3]

Chinnakada → Kallumthazham →Keralapuram → Kundara → Ezhukone → Kottarakkara → Chengamanad → Kunnicode → Vilakkudy → Punalur → Edamon → Thenmala → Kazhuthurutty → Aryankavu → Shenkottai → Ilanji → Tenkasi → Kadayanallur → Puliangudi → Vasudevanallur → Sivagiri → Seithur → Rajapalayam → Srivilliputtur → Alagapuri → T. Kallupatti → Tirumangalam^[4]

As per news reports^[5] and NHAI^[6] tender & project data, it has been confirmed that the section of NH 744 between Tirumangalam (on NH 44) and Rajapalayam is being taken up to be converted into a tolled, four lane highway for a total distance of 68 km. The stretch between Kollam and Senkottai will be developed as a greenfield access-controlled highway.

The work of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 208 km long National Highway-744 between Kollam-Tirumangalam near Madurai is being promoted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I.^[7]

During the Budget 2021, Finance Minister Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman proposed the Madurai-Kollam corridor.^[8][9]

In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Kollam-Madurai National Highway 744.^[10]

Project is being implemented in the following manner.^[11][12]

On the Madurai-Kollam highway, work is being carried out in the first phase from Thirumangalam to Vadugapatti and from Vadugapatti to South Venganallur and Rajapalayam at a cost of Rs. 2415 crore.

The second phase of work will begin from Rajapalayam to Sengottai at a cost of Rs. 2849.22 crore.^[13]

• 
  NH-744 at Kadappakada, Kollam City
• 
  13 Arch Bridge near the side of NH 744, Thenmala
• 
  A sign board in NH 744

• List of national highways in India
• National Highways Development Project