Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address BJP workers in the Kollam, Alappuzha and Mavelikara constituencies at a public meeting in Kollam on January 15, BJP State general secretary K. Surendran said at a press meet here on Monday.
However, he declined to clarify whether inauguration of the Kollam national highway bypass is part of Mr. Modi’s schedule.
“It's up to the discretion of Prime Minister’s Office and currently we are working on the finer points of the programme,” he said. Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran had earlier announced that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijyan will inaugurate the bypass on February 2.
CPI(M)’s take
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leadership in the district said the Left Democratic Front government, with its regular interventions, was responsible for the timely completion of the ₹277-crore project connecting Kavanad and Mevaram. Equally funded by the State and Central governments, the 13-km bypass is the only one in the State that touches three important National Highways: NH 66, NH 183 and NH 744.
“The bypass construction resumed after a break in 2016 when the LDF government came to power. Funds were sanctioned and Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma ensured the availability of material by convening a string of ministerial-level meetings. Of the total 46 piers, 37 were built during this time,” said MLAs M. Mukesh, M. Naushad, N.Vijyan Pialli and Mayor V.Rajendrababu at a press meet.
They added that 75% of the construction was completed after 2016 and Ministers G. Sudhakaran, J. Mercykutty Amma and K. Raju had visited the bypass in October 2018 for a detailed review.
“The Public Works Minister had instructed the officials concerned to install street lights on both sides of the bypass along with traffic ,” the Mayor said.
