‘Everything done cannot be made invisible like Mammootty in Mayavi’; road collapse unfortunate, says Minister Riyas 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Public Works Minister P A Muhammed Riyas termed as unfortunate in the construction of the elevated NH 66 portion that collapsed in Malappuram. He said the national highways authority should investigate and find out what happened. The government went ahead with the construction of the national highway after overcoming many crises. While talking to the media, he said the national highways authority bears the full responsibility of the construction.

'The UDF leaders are criticizing when an unfortunate incident happened. They are celebrating the road collapse. The opposition had the same stand during Covid time. Those criticizing now were not able to implement the construction of the national highway when they were in power. Everything that is done cannot be made invisible like Mammootty in the film Mayavi. Party workers will turn journalists themselves to update the people about government’s activities.

The government will advertise. Reels will be made and shared. The chief minister is coordinating properly. Meetings have been held and discussed at every stage, including the issue of land acquisition on the damaged road. The state's only interest is that the project be completed properly. All the failures have been brought to our attention,’ said Minister Riyas.

National Highway 66 collapsed at many places in Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod due to heavy rains. The service road between Mavungal and Chemmattamvayal at Kanhangad in Kasaragod collapsed. A large crack of about 20 meters in the same section appeared on the national highway. A crack of about 50 meters was formed on the upper bridge of the underpass near the Manathala Sreeviswanatha temple at Chavakkad in Thrissur.

In Kozhikode, a crack occurred in the area where soil nailing was done to prevent landslides in Kunnyoramala near the national highway in Kozhikode. The national highway was built after breaking the hills. A landslide occurred on the national highway at Taliparamba Kuppam in Kannur. Soil and muddy water flowed into nearby houses. Vehicles were diverted after the Kanhangad service road collapsed. The drainage work here was not completed. The road was washed away by the water that had entered during the rain. A deep crack appeared on the bridge at Manathala in Chavakkad where the tarring had been completed. The authorities tried to seal the crack by tarring it again, but were unsuccessful. Following the incident, the locals blocked the national highway at many places.