Union minister assures NH-66 work completion by 2025-end
T'puram: Chief minister
Pinarayi Vijayan
met Union transport minister
Nitin Gadkari
in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss national highway (NH) development works in Kerala, especially the recent collapse of the embankment and service road on NH-66 at Kooriyad in Malappuram.
After the meeting, PWD minister PA Mohamed Riyas told the media that Gadkari promised to complete NH work by the end of 2025. "NH-66 will open as a New Year gift to Kerala," he said.
Vijayan, Riyas, Kerala's special representative in New Delhi KV Thomas and chief secretary A Jayathilak attended a 45-minute meeting at Gadkari's office. Riyas said Gadkari listened to the chief minister's concerns and assured there would be no compromise on quality or safety of NH works.
He also promised action against those responsible for the collapse in Kerala.
Riyas said Gadkari proposed a 360m-long viaduct to fix the issue at Kooriyad. The contractor will bear construction cost and has been barred from future project bids, he said. On May 19, around 2:30pm, the embankment and service road of the under-construction NH-66 collapsed at Kooriyad in Malappuram, between Kolappuram and Kooriyad bridge.
This aroused safety concerns among the people.
Riyas said Gadkari also assured support for other road projects that are in the pipeline. The Centre will approve Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road by the end of July as the state has completed land acquisition. Work on Kollam-Sengottai greenfield highway is expected to begin by September, he said.
Later, Vijayan thanked Gadkari in a social media post, calling the meeting 'productive' and appreciating his review of NH projects in Kerala. "Thank you for your continued support," he wrote.
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