Don’t need credit; We give priority to open tunnel: Minister Muhammad Riyas

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister of Public Works Department P A Muhammad Riyas has reacted to the move of the Central government to open one of the tunnels in Kuthiran without informing the state government. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had declared the opening of the tunnel through his tweet without informing the state government formally. 

" We give priority to the opening of the tunnel to the public. The state government don’t want to claim credit in this matter. The LDF government has been working to open the tunnel soon since retaining the power in the elections. That was not for getting any credits or an ever-rolling trophy, said the minister. 

The project was executed by the National Highways Authority of India. The state government cannot remain silent when the project gets delayed. People were really affected because of the traffic blocks and accidents happening due to the slowdown of the Kuthiran project. The government has only intervened to solve these problems. The state government has not received any official information about the opening of the tunnel, pointed out Muhammad Riyas. 

Earlier Union minister V Muraleedharan had commented that a State Minister should not announce the decision to open the tunnel which is under NHAI. Riyas condemned this statement by saying that a minister can interfere in any matter regarding the well being of people. 

The PWD Minister also said that the government is giving priority to help NHAI to open the second tunnel too.