PWD to hold urgent meet over sluggish NH 66 work
T'puram: Amid growing concerns over the sluggish pace of work on the Kazhakkoottam–Kadampattukonam stretch of NH 66, PWD is set to convene a high-level meeting with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and contractor
RDS Projects Ltd
.
The meeting aims to break the deadlock and expedite construction on the 29km stretch in the city. The project, awarded to RDS Projects Ltd for Rs 990 crore, faced significant delays after the company ran into financial trouble. Subsequently, RDS subcontracted the work to Pune-based RKC Infrastructure Ltd. However, the subcontractor is yet to mobilize sufficient workforce and machinery at the site.
With state govt setting an ambitious deadline of Dec 2025 for NH 66 projects, PWD minister P A Mohamed Riyas has made it clear that the Thiruvananthapuram section must also be completed within that time frame.
Currently, this stretch is the slowest-moving NH 66 project in Kerala, raising alarms in the corridors of the state's infrastructure planning machinery. "We have already instructed the contractor to speed up the work," said a senior PWD official.
"Since there was no substantial progress, the govt is stepping in. The contractor will be directed to accelerate operations and ensure completion by Jan 2026 at the latest.
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Even though the work was subcontracted, RDS Projects remains accountable for the delay," he said.
A NHAI official said that the agency issued an ultimatum to the contractor. "We are monitoring the progress closely. If further delays occur, we will impose penalties and contract termination will be considered as a last resort," the official said. Meanwhile, officials of RDS Projects Ltd were unavailable for comment.
Earlier delays were attributed to material shortages, including rocks and red earth. The company approached the state govt to procure soil from a quarry in Mudakkal village, but financial difficulties led to the subcontracting arrangement. According to officials, approximately 20 lakh metric tons of soil are needed for landfilling and for building a 22-kilometre retaining wall on the bypass and highway stretch.
The project was initially slated for completion by January 2025. It was later extended to October 2025, and the contractor has now sought a further extension to March 2026.
Once completed, the upgraded 29km NH stretch will feature four flyovers, 36 culverts, six minor bridges, three vehicle overpasses, five vehicle underpasses, six light vehicle underpasses, four small vehicle underpasses, three cattle underpasses, a 29-km-long service road, 20 bus bays and a pedestrian overbridge on the 11.15km-long Attingal bypass.
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