Construction of NH from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram will be completed by Dec 2025: Muhammad Riyas

New Delhi: The construction of the national highway from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram will be completed by December 2025, said PWD Minister Mohammad Riyas. He was addressing the media after a meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari, which was also attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Riyas said the meeting began with discussions on lapses in the construction process and the actions taken in response. He added that responsible officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had already provided detailed explanations on the matter. The meeting also covered proposed changes in the construction work, including those at Kooriyad.

While speaking to the media, Riyas said the state government had received assurance from Minister Gadkari regarding the construction of a 360-metre viaduct. NHAI has suspended the responsible officials involved in the lapses and blacklisted the contracting company from future engagements.

Riyas added that the Union Minister had also agreed with the state government’s position that no compromise would be tolerated if further irregularities were found. He noted that issues such as cracks and other structural defects were not limited to Kooriyad in Malappuram district but had also occurred in other districts. These concerns had already been raised by the state and were addressed during the meeting, where clear intervention steps were outlined.

According to Riyas, Union Minister Gadkari assured the Chief Minister that the construction would proceed with adequate focus on quality and that defects would not be tolerated. He pointed out that, despite several challenges — including land acquisition — the project had made progress. He also noted that land acquisition costs in Kerala are much higher compared to other states. The construction is expected to be completed on time.

The Union Minister confirmed that the national highway project from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram would be completed by December 2025. The project will not be stalled, and any issues that arise will be resolved promptly. The aim is to present the completed project to the public as a New Year gift in 2026, with the state government extending full cooperation.

“The state government and the people of Kerala have demanded strict action against those responsible for construction flaws. Action has already been taken against the concerned officials, and the central government has stated that the viaduct will be rebuilt at the contractor’s own expense. The NHAI is fully responsible for the construction, while the state government is in charge of land acquisition. The pace of construction is determined by the NHAI. The state has intervened appropriately,” Riyas said.

Out of the 20 projects proposed by Kerala, the Centre has approved 14. The remaining projects will be cleared through further discussions. The state government remains committed to completing the project and has never wanted it to be stalled. State funds are also being utilised for the construction, and the central government has consistently welcomed the state’s proactive stance.

Riyas also criticised the position taken by opposition parties and leaders in the state. “Whether it is the Leader of the Opposition or UDF leaders in Kerala, they should sincerely introspect whether their response was appropriate for responsible political leadership or even for social activism,” he said.

He questioned whether such obstructionist attitudes were appropriate when the project was progressing. “It was during the tenure of the current opposition party that the project had originally stalled. The ₹5,580 crore now being spent by the state is a direct consequence of the UDF’s internal group politics when they were in power. If even a fraction of the current enthusiasm to oppose the project had been shown during their rule to implement it, the project would have been completed by now,” he said.