THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: National Highways Authority has excluded the Mysuru-Malappuram corridor and the Angamali-Thiruvananthapuram greenfield highway from the Bharatmala scheme due to diverted funds and expired notifications for land acquisition.

The National Highways Department of Kerala urged the Centre to reconsider including these highways in the Bharatmala project but a decision is pending despite a request made three months ago.

Furthermore, the state didn't sign contracts for several projects, including the Vizhinjam-Navaikulam Outer Ring Road and Kochi-Theni project resulting in land acquisition issues with expired notifications for land acquisition.

Concerns have arisen regarding the slow progress of the Thalappadi-Kaliyikavila NH 66 construction attributing the delay to local pressures for underpasses and flyovers and a shortage of construction materials.

However, some positive developments are observed, with the construction of the Kothamangalam-Moovatupuzha bypass and widening of Wellington Island-Kundannur (NH 966B) progressing smoothly.

Moreover, financial permissions have been granted by Kifbi to cover the increased land acquisition costs for the Palakkad-Kozhikode greenfield highway with the state expected to provide 25 percent of the required 5500 crores for land acquisition.