The construction of the vehicular underpass (VUP) at Kumarichantha in Thiruvananthapuram, part of National Highway 66's upgrade, faced delays. Local protests opposed the initially planned single 20-meter span. MP Shashi Tharoor intervened and negotiated with NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav. Earlier, Tharoor had succeeded in changing the plan to three 20-meter spans, but public concerns continued, saying this was still insufficient. After further talks with NHAI and local leaders including the Janakiya Samiti, a new plan was approved. Now, the underpass will have three spans of 30 meters each. This larger design addresses travel difficulties of local commuters. The latest decision will help resume the stalled NH66 construction at Kumarichantha, officials said in a statement on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.