NH 66 Completion by December, A 2026 New Year Gift: Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas
Thiruvananthapuram: The construction of National Highway 66 (NH 66) is expected to be completed and dedicated to the nation as a New Year gift in 2026, announced Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas. He made the statement while speaking to the media in Delhi, following a meeting with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to discuss issues related to highway construction. Minister Riyas added that Gadkari assured him the highway construction could be completed by December this year.
“The nation’s desire is not just to complete the work haphazardly, but to finish it in a time-bound manner,” the Minister said. He noted that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was responsible for all aspects, from alignment to construction. While there have been some issues in certain stretches, construction is generally progressing well, and the state will continue to provide all necessary support as it has been doing.
Regarding the unfortunate incident of the national highway collapse (implicitly referring to Kooriyad), Minister Riyas stated that the state’s opinion had been conveyed earlier to NHAI and the Central Government, and it was discussed in detail in today’s meeting. He highlighted that the Union Minister’s stance validated the state’s view that there should be no compromise with faulty construction practices. In connection with the lapse, NHAI has already suspended the responsible officials and debarred the contracting company from further work.
The Minister also mentioned that construction problems not only in Kooriyad but also in other areas of Malappuram district were brought to the government’s attention with video evidence. Specifically, a 360-meter long viaduct will be constructed at Kooriyad. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has assured the Chief Minister that special attention will be given to construction in problematic areas.
Minister Riyas underscored the significance of NH 66, calling it a dream project for Malayalis worldwide. He stated that land acquisition and other preliminary works were completed after overcoming numerous challenges. He also revealed that the state government has allocated ₹5600 crore for the national highway project.