National Highway 744 (India)

National Highway 744
National Highway 744
	Map of National Highway 744 in red
Route information
	Auxiliary route of NH 44
	Maintained by NHAI
Length	206 km (128 mi)
History	Announced as 'NH-208' in 2000
Major junctions
West end	NH 66 in Kollam, KL
	at Kallumthazham; at Kottarakkara; at Punalur
East end	NH 44 in Tirumangalam, TN
Location
Country	India
States	Kerala, Tamil Nadu
Highway system
	Roads in India; Expressways; National; State; Asian;

Route map

National Highway 744 or NH 744 (earlier NH 208)^[1] is a National Highway in Southern India that links Kollam (Quilon) in Kerala with Madurai in Tamil Nadu.^[2] Starting from NH 66 at Chinnakkada in Kollam, it joins Tirumangalam in Madurai at National Highway 44 (India).^[2]

Route description

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 → Melila → Kunnicode → Vilakkudy → Punalur → Edamon → Thenmala → Kazhuthurutty → Aryankavu → Shenkottai → Ilanji → Tenkasi → Kadayanallur → Puliangudi → Vasudevanallur → Sivagiri → Seithur → Rajapalayam → Srivilliputtur → Alagapuri → T. Kallupatti → Tirumangalam^[4]

Future

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.

Major intersections

State	District	Location	km	mi	Destinations	Notes
Tamil Nadu	Madurai	Tirumangalam	0	0	NH 44 - Madurai, Kanyakumari	Eastern end of the highway.
	Virudhunagar	Alagapuri	32	20	SH 182 - Virudhunagar
	Virudhunagar	Srivilliputhur	86	53	SH 42 - Sivakasi
	Tenkasi	Puliyankudi	136	85	SH 76 - Sankarankoil
		Thenkasi	167	104	SH 39 / SH 40 - Pavoorchatram, Courtallam
		Sengottai	173	107	SH 40 - Courtallam
Kerala	Kollam	Thenmala	202	126	SH 2 - Thiruvananthapuram
		Punalur	223	139	SH 48 / SH 8 - Anchal, Ayoor, Pathanapuram
		Kottarakkara	241	150	SH 1 - Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Angamaly
		Kollam	264	164	NH 66 - Thiruvananthapuram, Attingal, Ernakulam	Western end of the highway. Kollam bypass.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi