Kerala Youth Affairs, Sports and Registration Minister O.J. Janeesh has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to complete all pending ancillary works on national highways 544 and 66 within a fixed timeline, warning that prolonged delays in constructing foot overbridges, underpasses and service roads were affecting public safety and mobility.
Chairing a review meeting of MLAs, local body representatives and officials at the Thrissur Collectorate on Tuesday, the Minister asked the NHAI to submit, without delay, a project-wise report specifying when each work commenced and the exact schedule for its completion.
“The NHAI should urgently submit a report with a clear timeline indicating when each project started and when it will be completed,” Mr. Janeesh said.
He also announced that a joint inspection by a team, including the Minister, District Collector, MLAs and representatives of local bodies, would be conducted in August to assess the progress of the works on the ground.
The review meeting focussed on a series of complaints related to highway construction, including safety concerns, waterlogging, inadequate pedestrian facilities and delays in completing supporting infrastructure.
District Collector Shikha Surendran directed the NHAI to conduct a structural feasibility study after concerns were raised over concrete slabs bulging from the retaining wall of the Amballur underpass on NH-544, posing a potential safety hazard.
MLAs pointed out that faulty drainage construction had resulted in severe waterlogging at Punnayurkulam, Thiruvathra, Kodungallur, Orumanayur and Anjangadi along NH-66. The meeting also called for permanent solutions to slush and flooding beneath flyovers during the monsoon, restoration of village roads damaged by the movement of construction materials, and removal of sand accumulated around the Kodungallur temple premises.
To improve pedestrian safety, legislators sought new foot overbridges at Chentrappinni, Mandalamkunnu and Engandiyur, besides pedestrian underpasses at Chuvannamannu and the Punnayur Health Centre. The Public Works Department and the NHAI were also asked to jointly examine the feasibility of constructing an underpass at Pallinada, Kaipamangalam.
The Collector further instructed the NHAI to install streetlights and warning signboards at vulnerable locations to improve safety for night-time commuters, while City Police Commissioner Nakul Deshmukh suggested deploying traffic wardens at key junctions.
Responding to the concerns, NHAI officials informed the meeting that approval had been obtained for eight of the 12 proposed foot overbridges on NH-66. Work on two had already begun, while construction of three more would commence in the first week of August. “The foot overbridges will be completed within 60 days of the commencement of work,” the authority assured.
On NH-544, the authority said approvals had been secured for four new flyovers at Nadathara, Marathakkara, Puthukkad and Nandikkara, along with four foot overbridges at Chuvannamannu, Mudikkode, Paliyekkara and Nellayi, besides two service roads.
MLAs K.K. Ramachandran, N.K. Akbar, Geetha Gopi and K.K. Valsaraj, Rural SP Mohammed Nadeemuddin, elected representatives, officials from various departments and NHAI representatives were among those who attended the meeting.
Published - July 28, 2026 01:06 pm IST