Latest news with #NH66
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Rs 6,700 crore boost for road development in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union government has approved road development projects worth Rs 6,700 crore submitted by Kerala, following a meeting between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Wednesday. The clearance covers 14 projects proposed by the state. Gadkari also assured that the 380-m-long stretch in the Malappuram-Kooriyad section that got damaged during NH 66 construction will be rebuilt as a viaduct at the contractor's expense. Public Works Minister P A Mohamed Riyas, who was part of the CM-led delegation, said the independent engineer, contractor and design consultant involved with the project have been removed and the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) project director suspended. The meeting also reviewed the progress of NH works under way in Kerala. 'Recognising minor delays in some stretches, the Union minister suggested corrective steps. All highway construction will be completed by December 2025,' Riyas said. He also confirmed that the state will receive `151 crore under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme this week. Riyas said the Centre would give final approval for the Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road and the Palakkad-Kozhikode Greenfield Highway, likely by the end of July. Several projects that were pending for over eight years have now received clearance. The Ernakulam Bypass project has received in-principle approval, and the remaining formalities are expected to be completed within five months. Of the seven NHs currently under development through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways fund, five have received approval, while nod for the other two is expected within two months.
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kerala minister urges Centre to reconstruct collapsed portion of NH 66
The Kerala government apprised Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari of the need to urgently reconstruct the collapsed section of the NH 66 at Kooriyad and complete the six-lane expansion of the project in a time-bound manner, the state public works minister PA Muhammad Riyas said Wednesday. Riyas accompanied chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other top officials at a meeting in Delhi with Gadkari on Wednesday in the backdrop of complaints of cracks and fissures in several reaches of the NH 66 and the fallout of the collapse of a section at Kooriyad. Vijayan and Gadkari previously met in December last year to evaluate the ongoing road and highway projects in Kerala. At a press conference at Kerala House, Riyas said, 'The Union minister has promised the CM that steps will be taken to address all the current (construction-related) issues in the NH66 project and prevent any further mishaps. A 45-metre-wide six-lane NH 66 from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram is the dream of every Malayali. We know how the project at one stage was suspended and how it is being Union minister has informed us that the project can be completed by December this year. It will be a new year gift to the people of the state.' The PWD minister said a 360-metre-long viaduct will be constructed at the spot where a section of the elevated under-construction highway caved in onto the service roads at Kooriyad on May 20. Several motorists were injured in the incident. 'Those responsible for the collapse within the NHAI have been suspended. The contracting firm has been barred from taking part in future tender proceedings. The state has informed the Union ministry of the cracks and fissures in some of the other reaches of the NH 66. The NHAI is overseeing every aspect of the highway from alignment to construction,' the minister said. He added that the notification for the outer ring road project in Thiruvananthapuram is expected by July this year. Riyas underlined that the heft land acquisition costs in Kerala compared to other states in India continues to be a big challenge for major infrastructure projects. 'To give you an example, land acquisition for a kilometre of road in any other state is about ₹2 crore. In Kerala, it is ₹37 crore. That's how wide the disparity is. We need to evaluate this aspect going forward in the future,' he added.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Centre gives assurance, construction of NH-66 to be completed by Dec: Kerala minister
NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government has promised to complete the ongoing construction of the National Highway 66 project, spanning from Kasaragod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south, by December this year, Kerala Public Works Minister P A Mohammed Riyas said on Wednesday. The assurance was given by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in New Delhi, he said. The state government would continue to extend all support to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to complete the much-awaited infrastructure project in a time-bound manner, Riyas told reporters in Delhi after taking part in the meeting attended by Gadkari and Vijayan. "Gadkari has opined that the construction of the NH 66, between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram, will be completed by December 2025. If there are any other issues in this regard, all those things will be examined and resolved, and the project will be taken forward," the minister said. As of now, the Centre has assured that the project can be dedicated as a new year gift to the people in 2026, he said. Sharing more details about the meeting, Riyas said Rs 6700 crore projects, submitted for road development in the state, have received central approval. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo As many as 14 projects submitted by Kerala to the Centre have been approved, he said, adding that it has also been informed that the state will receive Rs 151 crore of the amount due under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme this week itself. Gadkari assured that the 380-metre-long road, which was damaged during the construction of NH 66 in the Kuriyad area of Malappuram, would be reconstructed as a viaduct (a type of long bridge) at the contractor's own expense. Quoting the union minister, Riyas further said that the Kollam-Senkotta Greenfield (NH 744) would be approved within three months. The state minister also said that a directive has been received to prepare a DPR for the construction of a road connecting National Highway 66 to the Kozhikode International Airport. Riyas's statement came hours after the opposition Congress in Kerala on Wednesday demanded a CBI probe into the recent collapse and damage of sections of National Highway 66 across the state following heavy rains. Criticising the Left government in the state for not seeking any inquiry so far into the issue, the grand old party said only a comprehensive probe can uncover the alleged corruption involved in the construction of national highways in the state. Riyas, however, sought to belittle the matter and said though there are certain issues in some reaches of the under-construction highway, the work is progressing in a remarkable manner generally. "The state government will continue to extend all support to complete the construction. It is not going to be discontinued anyway," he said. The PWD minister added that the state government had urged the union minister to take strong action over issues arising from the NH 66 construction and ensure a timely completion of the project. The Centre, in turn, gave assurance in both these matters, he added. "Had a productive meeting with Hon'ble Union Minister Shri @nitin_gadkari Ji in Delhi to review the progress of ongoing National Highway projects in Kerala. Thank you for your continued support," CM Vijayan tweeted later. Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, during a press meet in Malappuram, pointed to the alleged engineering lapses in the NH construction. Besides an investigation into the technical aspect by an expert panel, a comprehensive probe should be conducted into the "corruption" involved in it, he alleged. "A large-scale probe should be carried out into the lapses in road (national highway) constructions in the state. A CBI probe should be ordered. Corruption to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees has happened in it," Satheesan told reporters in Malappuram. He claimed that the opposition has received clear indications of some people within the state government who allegedly granted favours to the contract company, which is now facing allegations over the construction of the NH in the state. The leader further alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government's silence on the serious issue of the NH collapse stems from its apprehension to speak out against the union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The LoP's demand for a CBI probe came days after CM Vijayan had made it clear that the full responsibility for the construction of the national highway lies with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Vijayan had said the development of the National Highway, which had been stalled due to the severe apathy of the previous UDF government, became possible solely because of the determination of the LDF government. The political blame game erupted following the collapse of a section of the under-construction National Highway 66, the appearance of cracks in parts of the road, and soil slips in areas where hills had been levelled for construction in central and northern Kerala after continuous rainfall two weeks ago. The incidents were reported from Thrissur, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. PTI Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala Public Works minister Riyas lashes out at Opposition over NH 66 allegations
KOZHIKODE: Dismissing Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan's allegations regarding the improper construction of NH 66 as politically motivated, Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas has said the remarks were rooted in electoral insecurity, particularly with M Swaraj being fielded as the LDF candidate in Nilambur. 'The arrival of a strong LDF candidate like M Swaraj has clearly unsettled the opposition leader. That's why he's raising his voice and throwing around baseless allegations,' Riyas told reporters in Kozhikode on Sunday. He hinted that the opposition's sudden focus on national highway issues is an attempt to deflect attention from internal setbacks and the Congress party's questionable alliances. 'Those who speak about a CPM-BJP nexus should first explain what action they took in Thrissur, where it was the Congress that helped the lotus bloom. Who truly worked behind the scenes,' Riyas asked. Addressing the allegations regarding flaws in highway construction, the minister said, 'If any construction defect is found, we will definitely take action. But let's be clear, the responsibility for the construction lies with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), not the state government.'
India.com
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
NHAI, Transport Ministry Admit Design Flaws In Kerala's NH 66: KC Venugopal
New Delhi/Malappuram: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman and senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal on Thursday said that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways have admitted to lapses, including a design failure, in the under-construction stretches of National Highway 66 in Kerala. Speaking to the media in New Delhi after a meeting of the PAC, Venugopal said that both the NHAI and the Transport Secretary acknowledged technical snags during the review, including flaws in the project's design, which have led to the crumbling of road segments in multiple districts. 'At the meeting, NHAI and the Transport Secretary accepted that technical failures, especially in design, were behind the damage to NH 66. Alarmingly, it has emerged that the final design was made by the contractor,' Venugopal said. The PAC also raised concerns over procedural lapses. Venugopal noted that during the interaction, it was revealed there was no high-level technical committee in place for quality assurance. 'In the case of the collapsed stretch at Kuriyad in Malappuram, locals had long warned that the highway should have been elevated, as it passes through a paddy field. These warnings were ignored,' he said. The PAC has now asked the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to conduct a performance audit, including a detailed review of the design. Venugopal added that the PAC has directed the NHAI chairman to visit Kerala for a three-day inspection starting Saturday, not just to Kuriyad but to other sites as well. A three-member technical committee comprising senior experts has also been formed, which has been tasked with submitting a report to the PAC within three weeks. 'We have asked for a comprehensive report detailing what went wrong and what corrective measures will be taken,' Venugopal said. Venugopal also took a swipe at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his son-in-law, PWD Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, accusing them of silence after initially taking credit for the project. 'Until the NH 66 collapses came to light, both the Chief Minister and the PWD Minister were boasting about the project. Now, they have gone quiet,' he remarked. Venugopal had visited NH 66 sites in Kerala on Wednesday and raised strong objections to the construction standards and lack of oversight.
