Kottayam: The renovation of rural roads that were dug to facilitate piping works related to the Jal Jeevan Mission drinking water project will be delayed in Kerala.

Out of the 37,427 kilometres of roads dug, only 9,646 kilometres have been repaired so far. The renovation has been affected as contractors withdrew after not receiving payments for completed work. This has left 27,781 kilometres of roads in a state of disrepair.

The situation is likely to continue. Contractors maintain that around Rs 2,000 crore will be needed solely for road renovation. The tendering for the project will take this cost into account. In some cases, the same contractor handles both the pipe-laying and road repairs, while in other areas, different contractors are assigned for each task.

The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2020, involves completing projects worth Rs 44,714 crore. However, in the 2024-25 state budget, only Rs 550 crore has been allocated for the project. Contractors are owed Rs 3,306 crore for completed works, but only Rs 1,201 crore has been disbursed so far this fiscal year.

To date, Rs 10,363 crore has been spent on the project in Kerala, with Rs 5,131 crore contributed by the central government and Rs 5,231 crore by the state. Over 90% of the affected roads are rural.

Pipes are laid on roads with the permission of local self-governing institutions. As the project stalls, these governing bodies are under pressure.

According to Varghese Kannampally, President of the Government Contractors Association, an immediate requirement of Rs 500 crore is necessary for road renovations.

Severe crisis

With just a month left for the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, unrepaired roads pose a significant challenge. Rural roads are often used as bypasses and alternate routes from main highways. Roads leading to Sabarimala base camps are also in a ruined condition. The renovation of Sabarimala roads, which is supposed to be completed by November 16, is also delayed. They have not even been given administrative approval.