Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has written to his Tamil Nadu counterpart C. Joseph Vijay, urging his personal intervention to address the shortage of construction materials affecting National Highway projects in Kerala.

In the letter, the Chief Minister said the Tamil Nadu government's recent restrictions on the interstate movement of construction materials, including crushed stone (metal), have severely impacted infrastructure development projects in Kerala. Referring to the long-standing ties and cooperation between the neighbouring states, he sought the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's intervention to resolve the issue.

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The restrictions were introduced through a Tamil Nadu government notification issued on July 9, regulating the interstate transport of rocks and other construction materials. According to the letter, the move has considerably reduced the supply of stone and aggregates from the districts of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari, which are the principal sources of materials for Kerala's National Highway construction projects.

The Chief Minister said the restrictions have disrupted the supply chain and led to major delays in ongoing construction work.

He also stressed that the National Highway expansion projects are crucial not only for Kerala but for the economic growth of southern India as a whole. The road network, he said, is vital for ensuring seamless connectivity to the Vizhinjam International Seaport and the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal, while also strengthening regional development and enhancing southern India's competitiveness in global markets.

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The Chief Minister further pointed out that Kerala faces limitations in sourcing sufficient quantities of stone and aggregates within the state for large-scale infrastructure projects.

In view of this, he requested the Tamil Nadu government to consider granting special exemptions for projects of national importance, provided such a decision does not adversely affect the sustainable management of natural resources.