Minister Janeesh Demands Accountability for National Highway Lifecycle Delays

NHAI Ordered to Provide Detailed Work Timelines

Addressing a review summit at the Thrissur Collectorate on Tuesday, Kerala Minister for Youth Affairs, Sports and Registration, O.J. Janeesh, mandated that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) adhere to a strict schedule for ancillary projects. The Minister demanded a project-specific report detailing the commencement dates and finalized completion windows for all works. Janeesh cautioned that the lag in establishing foot overbridges, underpasses, and service roads along NH 544 and NH 66 has severely compromised public mobility.

To ensure progress is verifiable, the Minister announced a high-level field inspection slated for August. This joint assessment will include the District Collector, MLAs, and local governance representatives to evaluate ground-level development.

Hazard Mitigation and Drainage Repairs

District Collector Shikha Surendran intervened in safety matters, ordering an immediate structural feasibility study regarding the Amballur underpass on NH 544. Reports indicate bulging concrete slabs on the retaining wall, creating a significant risk for commuters. Further technical concerns raised by legislators include:

• Severe Waterlogging: Faulty drainage systems have caused flooding at Punnayurkulam, Thiruvathra, Kodungallur, Orumanayur, and Anjangadi.
• Infrastructure Restoration: The meeting called for the repair of village roads worn down by heavy construction machinery and the clearing of sand deposits at the Kodungallur temple.
• Pedestrian Connectivity: New foot overbridges are requested for Chentrappinni, Mandalamkunnu, and Engandiyur, while pedestrian underpasses are sought for Chuvannamannu and the Punnayur Health Centre.

Project Status and Safety Upgrades

NHAI officials reported that eight of the twelve proposed foot overbridges on NH 66 have received formal approval. Construction on two has started, with three more beginning in August; the authority estimates a 60-day window for completion once work begins. For NH 544, approvals are secured for flyovers at Nadathara, Marathakkara, Puthukkad, and Nandikkara, alongside foot overbridges at Chuvannamannu, Mudikkode, Paliyekkara, and Nellayi.

In the interim, the Collector has directed the installation of streetlights and warning signs at high-risk zones. To manage immediate congestion, City Police Commissioner Nakul Deshmukh recommended the deployment of traffic wardens at primary junctions. Attendees included MLAs K.K. Ramachandran, N.K. Akbar, Geetha Gopi, and K.K. Valsaraj, alongside Rural SP Mohammed Nadeemuddin.

Source: The Hindu — National