If the construction goes very well, the development of the National Highways can be completed during the term of the second Pinarayi government. It has been years since construction was completed in all other states. Even the development of the national highway was initially opposed by many. No one is objecting now. That is because, as per figures, 2,977 people had lost their lives in the year 2020 in road accidents. 30,000 people were injured. Accidents on National Highway 66 alone claimed 864 lives. Most accidents occur between six in the evening and nine at night. According to official sources, the main reason for this is speeding and overtaking. However, anyone can understand that the main problem is the lack of medians and the narrowness of the road. This situation will change only after the completion of the national highway development.

Ninety per cent of the land was taken over by the government and handed over to the National Highways Authority. Contractors were appointed in several stretches. In Kerala, many buildings near the National Highway are being demolished. When seeing this, one might think that the work will commence soon and will be completed in two or three years. However, officials in two departments are confident that this will not happen. Some of these officials belong to the Pollution Control Board, which comes under the purview of the Chief Minister himself. The other group are officials from the Department of Mining and Geology, which come under the purview of the Department of Industry. Officials in these two departments are not far behind in accepting bribes.
They will settle matters depending on the amount they are offered as a bribe. It has become their habit. We pointed out in a report published in the Kaumudi e-paper that they have started showing this attitude to the NH development as well. They are currently causing a hindrance to the development of the six-lane road in the Kollam region. Rock and soil are two essential elements in the early stages of NH development. Large boulders need to be broken into small pieces to level the road. For this a concreting plant and crusher should be set up. Pollution control board officials have to give the necessary permission. It has been four months since two different contracting companies in Kollam Reach applied for the permission. However, no permission has been granted so far.

It is the Department of Geology that must give permission to take sand and other procedures. The department is yet to give permission to the applications submitted by various contractors. Work cannot be commenced without getting permission from these departments. If the work is delayed, the people will blame only the contractors. In fact, many projects and developments are hindered by such invisible barriers of bureaucracy. As the work gets delayed, the cost of construction will increase. The Chief Minister and the Industries Minister should take immediate action in this regard.