Kerala NH overpasses: Centre approves pillar design for enhanced safety and development

New Delhi: BJP Kerala state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Tuesday said the Centre has agreed to address long-pending concerns over national highway overpasses in Kerala by approving a major change in their design.

In a post on social media platform X, Chandrasekhar said that following two rounds of discussions with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari cleared the construction of all pending overpasses on pillars instead of the reinforced earth (RE) wall model, despite the higher project cost.

He said the revised design would significantly ease difficulties faced by residents living along national highways, particularly in areas such as Oachira in Kollam district, where local communities had raised objections to the existing overpass structure.

Chandrasekhar said he had personally assured residents that the Narendra Modi-led government would resolve their concerns related to national highway infrastructure and land use.

The BJP leader also said Gadkari had confirmed that the Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road project is expected to receive approval by February or March 2026. He added that compensation would be provided to landowners whose property is being acquired for the project.

Describing the announcements as a positive beginning to 2026, Chandrasekhar said the decisions underscored the Centre’s commitment to accelerating infrastructure development and improving road connectivity in Kerala.

PTI