KOLLAM: Kollam bypass has been a dream and requirement for travellers passing through Kollam. This bypass will help passengers to travel to Thiruvananthapuram without entering Kollam city. However, since the road construction is completed, everyone has been discussing about its inauguration. UDF and LDF had been trying to claim that the bypass is their project. The opposition had claimed that the government is purposefully delaying the inauguration of the road till the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, the government clarified that they are planning to inaugurate the bypass after placing streetlights on the roadsides. Finally, the inauguration was scheduled to be on February 2nd and it was decided that Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the bypass road.

However, latest reports say that the bypass will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sources close to BJP say that the Prime Minister will inaugurate the bypass during his visit to Kerala in January. The government has not clarified this. The bypass construction was completed jointly together by the state and central governments. Therefore, BJP says that the bypass should be inaugurated by the Prime Minister. Amit Shah’s visit to Kannur airport had also resulted in a backlash recently.