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Kollam Highway Collapse: Venugopal Slams Kerala Govt Over "Unending Saga"

AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal has strongly criticized the Kerala government following another retaining wall collapse on an under-construction highway in Kollam. He calls it an "unending saga of collapses" that points to serious safety lapses and corruption. Venugopal warns that hurried project execution for political gain is endangering public safety. He states the Public Accounts Committee will take up the matter to seek accountability from all involved agencies.

Key Points: Venugopal Slams Kerala Govt Over Kollam Highway Wall Collapse

  • Venugopal alleges deep-rooted corruption and serious safety failures in the highway project
  • He warns continued negligence could put public lives at risk
  • The incident is part of a pattern of similar collapses across Kerala in recent years
  • He criticizes the state govt for hurried execution to gain political credit before elections
2 min read

'Unending saga of collapses': Venugopal slams Kerala govt over Kollam highway

AICC's KC Venugopal criticizes Kerala government after another highway wall collapse in Kollam, citing safety failures and corruption in the project.

"This is not an accident in isolation. It reflects a pattern. It raises grave concerns about the quality of construction and the lack of oversight. - K.C. Venugopal"

New Delhi, Dec 5

AICC general secretary and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament, K.C. Venugopal, on Friday came down heavily on the Kerala government after yet another retaining wall collapsed along the under-construction National Highway near Kottiyam in Kollam.

Calling it “an unending saga of collapses,” Venugopal said the incident pointed to serious safety failures and deep-rooted corruption in the implementation of the highway project.

Speaking to reporters, Venugopal recalled that he had inspected a similar collapse in North Kerala earlier and raised the matter at the PAC meeting.

“They had admitted there was a lapse in the way things happened,” he said.

“Now today the same thing occurred at Kottiyam in Kollam. This is not an accident in isolation. It reflects a pattern. It raises grave concerns about the quality of construction and the lack of oversight,” he said.

Venugopal added that the latest collapse should serve as a wake-up call for both the Union and state governments, warning that continued negligence could put lives at risk.

“This is a serious issue of safety. This is nothing but corruption,” he alleged.

He also criticised the Kerala government, saying its priorities were misplaced.

“The Kerala government also has a role, as they are only interested in somehow getting the project completed, as elections are happening. They are looking to take credit only,” Venugopal said.

He added that hurried project execution for political gain cannot come at the cost of public safety.

With multiple collapses now reported across the state in recent years -- from Kozhikode to Kannur to Kollam -- Venugopal said the PAC would take up the matter again and seek accountability from all agencies involved.

“Those responsible for repeated failures must be identified, and action must follow. Public money and public safety are both at stake,” he said and added that the respective district collectors are vital links in this project.

A woman who was passing, in a car at the time when the incident occurred said it was a shocking experience.

“It was horrible. I stopped the car and ran to safety. The road was cracking, and the side walls and the electric posts were shaking,” she said.

Meanwhile, State PWD Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas asked for an immediate report on the incident from the concerned authorities.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Thank God the woman in the car is safe. Imagine the trauma! This is exactly why we need stronger whistleblower protection and independent audits for all public projects. The PAC must follow through this time and not let it be another forgotten report.
R
Rahul R
While Venugopal is right to point out the failures, let's not forget his party was in power at the Centre for a long time. The system of corruption in tenders and contracts is bipartisan. We need a complete overhaul, not just political blame games before elections.
A
Anjali F
My cousin travels on that highway often. It's terrifying to think this could happen anytime. The Minister asking for a "report" is standard procedure. What we need is immediate suspension of the contractors and engineers responsible, and criminal charges if negligence is proven.
D
David E
Working in infrastructure abroad, the standards and accountability are simply different. In India, the focus is always on finishing before deadline for political mileage, not on building to last. The lifecycle cost of poor construction is enormous. A very shortsighted approach.
M
Meera T
This "unending saga" is happening in many states. From bridges to buildings, quality is compromised. We citizens must also be more demanding. Why do we accept such poor work? We should protest peacefully until proper action is taken. Jai Hind.

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