Latest news with #NH-66
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NH-66 project: Kerala minister Mohamed Riyas sparks row with ‘Kaalan' remark
Kozhikode: PWD Minister Mohamed Riyas said that even if public accounts committee (PAC) chairman KC Venugopal tries to act as the 'Kaalan' (lord of death) of NH-66 project, road development in Kerala will continue. His comments sparked strong criticism from Congress leaders and Youth Congress workers marched to his house in protest. Addressing the media, Riyas took a dig at Venugopal, saying one shouldn't treat the PAC chairman like a Supreme Court judge. "Even if Venugopal plays the role of 'Kaalan' in this project, the state govt will move forward and take all necessary steps to implement it," he said. Riyas added that the NH project was stalled when Venugopal's party was in power from 2011 to 2016. "They couldn't implement it then and now they're trying to block it. But they won't succeed," he added. In Kochi, opposition leader VD Satheesan said PAC has the authority to investigate flaws in NH construction works and accused CPM leaders of opposing the probe because they fear Centre and BJP. "There's massive corruption in the NH development works in Kerala, involving crores. Why is the state govt afraid of a PAC investigation? The same CPM that protested 'corruption' in the Palarivattom bridge project is now silent. That's hypocrisy. CM Pinarayi Vijayan and minister Riyas met Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who acts as a bridge between CPM and BJP in Kerala. We want a CBI probe," he said, adding that National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had admitted it will take a year to repair the damaged Kooriyad stretch. KPCC chief Sunny Joseph, who visited the damaged NH site in Kooriyad on Thursday, said Riyas was trying to justify the collapse and blame those who acted effectively. "Riyas made big claims about monitoring and reviewing the highway work. Now, is he trying to protect the culprits?" he asked, echoing Satheesan's views. He said the opposition in Kerala and at the national level is raising its voice to expose the issue. Venugopal, as PAC chairman, visited the NH sites and summoned top officials, including the NHAI chairman and transport secretary, for explanations. But the CM and PWD minister didn't even visit the sites, he said, adding that the govt is trying to cover up the problem and distract from its earlier claims about NH work.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) alleges corruption and preferential treatment in award of NH-66 work
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretariat has flagged alleged big-ticket corruption and preferential treatment in the award of contracts for National Highway-66 construction work in Kerala. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan told a press conference that contractors involved in NH-66 construction in Kerala had executed electoral bonds estimated at ₹980 crore in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for official patronage in the award of Central works. He noted that in 2023, the BJP had accused the construction firm responsible for the collapse of an elevated section of the under-construction NH-66 in Malappuram district on May 19 of astronomical corruption, pegged at ₹38,000 crore, in executing the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana. He said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had surmounted several political and administrative impediments, including impossible conditions set by the Central government, to make NH-66, a project abandoned by the Oommen Chandy government, a reality. Mr. Govindan said the Centre made an unusual demand that Kerala pay for the land acquisition, prompting the State to raise ₹6,000 crore via the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board as compensation to landowners. The CPI(M) lauded Union Minister for Road and Highways Nitin Gadkari for blacklisting the errant construction company and taking proactive steps to expedite the rectification works. He said the Congress leadership attempted to blame the NH-66 collapse on the LDF despite the government having no role in the work execution. Mr. Govindan said the Congress' opposition to the LDF lacked political or policy content and was patently hollow and catalysed by pure political spite and envy for the State government's nine years of people-centric good governance. 'The Congress has recurrently attempted to derail Kerala's development. It made the anti-development campaign a political programme after the LDF stormed back to power for a second consecutive term on a development and welfare platform in 2021. The United Democratic Front then realised that rhetoric, hyperbole, muckraking, and grandstanding do not win elections. But development, welfare, and public service delivery do,' he said. Mr. Govindan said neither the elections, politics, nor policy animated the Congress as much as infighting for the prospective Chief Ministership did. 'K Sudhakaran, K. Muraleedharan, V.D. Satheesan, Shashi Tharoor, and Ramesh Chennithala have thrown their hat into the ring. Other dark horses might enter the ruthless rat race for the elusive title,' he said.
