Kollam: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has clarified that the Kerala state government, including the Public Works Department, plays no part in the actual construction of national highways. According to him, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is handling every aspect of the project “from A to Z” and it is their responsibility to resolve any ongoing issues and ensure progress.
Speaking at a Left Democratic Front (LDF) public gathering in Kollam, marking the fourth anniversary of his administration’s second term, the Chief Minister listed various developmental achievements by the state but drew a clear boundary when it came to the central highway project.
His remarks come in the wake of sharp opposition attacks over a reported crack in an under-construction segment of the highway. Addressing the criticism, Vijayan maintained that while the LDF has taken a proactive stance on infrastructure, blaming it for faults in a centrally managed project is unjustified. “Had the LDF not taken charge in 2016, the National Highway dream would still be on paper,” he said, asserting that his government’s role was limited but crucial in reviving the stalled project.
He also took pride in Kerala’s progress, particularly in healthcare, stating that the state now garners attention nationally and internationally.
Critics, he said, are now attempting to pin the blame on the LDF for glitches in highway construction. “If the charge is that we brought to life a project others left abandoned, then yes, we are guilty of development,” he remarked pointedly. “That is a responsibility we proudly accept—for the state's advancement.”
Pinaray Vijayan reiterated that the NHAI is fully in charge of the highway construction—from planning to execution. The central government has instituted its own mechanisms and teams, and state agencies have no operational involvement. “This is entirely under their purview. It’s their mandate and their machinery,” he said. “Our role is only to point out shortcomings when necessary and expect accountability.”
He also recounted how the highway project, once derailed by the previous administration’s inaction, was put back on track after the LDF assumed office in 2016. “Back then, not even a foot of land was acquired. The National Highways Authority packed up and left. We had to bring them back,” he noted.
Land acquisition was the state's sole responsibility, and that too became contentious. “Kerala’s land is costly, and the previous government refused to cooperate. Their failure forced us to negotiate afresh. Eventually, we agreed to fund 25% of the land acquisition cost. That is how this project was resurrected,” Vijayan concluded.