Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged officials to speed up National Highway (NH) development projects across the state. He wants all works completed on time without cutting corners on quality, especially in Kerala’s tricky terrain and crowded areas.
During a key review meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan praised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for their overall efforts but flagged delays in spots like Vadakara, Thuravoor, and the capital city itself. He didn’t hold back, directing teams to crack down on contractors dragging their feet on NH construction in Kerala.
One big highlight? The need for an underpass at Nadapuram in Kannur district. Local bus operators and residents have been protesting because buses now have to detour all the way to Chala, making life tough for daily commuters. Vijayan called this a priority case that needs quick fixes.
To keep things moving, the CM asked District Collectors and Police Chiefs to jump in and sort out any roadblocks. He also pushed for fast resolutions to ongoing arbitration cases tied to these NH projects.
The meeting covered timelines for 642 km of road works spread over 17 stretches. Officials aim to finish 480 km by December 2025 and wrap up 560 km by March 2026. Progress varies by district—here’s a quick look:
– Kasaragod: 70 km out of 83 km done
– Kannur: 48 km out of 65 km
– Kozhikode: 55 km out of 69 km
– Malappuram: Almost complete at 76 km out of 77 km
– Thrissur: 42 km out of 62 km
– Ernakulam: Just 9 km out of 26 km
– Alappuzha: 34 km out of 95 km
– Kollam: 24 km out of 56 km
– Thiruvananthapuram: 5 km out of 30 km
Joining Vijayan were Public Works Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, Industries Minister P. Rajeev, Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty, Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak, State Police Chief Revada Chandrasekhar, and top NHAI officials.
With local body elections coming up before December and Assembly polls by May 2026, poor road conditions and slow NH progress in Kerala have become hot topics. The Congress-led UDF and BJP are already slamming the government over it, turning highway delays into a major election issue.
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