Kerala PWD Minister Excluded from PM Modi’s NH Projects Inauguration Despite ₹5,500 Crore State Contribution

Thiruvananthapuram: Public Works Minister P A Muhammed Riyas has reportedly been excluded from the inauguration ceremony of national highway development projects that will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kochi on Wednesday.

The minister’s name does not appear in the official list of participants for the event, where several major infrastructure projects will be dedicated to the nation. Pinarayi Vijayan and ministers M B Rajesh and K. Krishnankutty were invited to the program. However, following the exclusion of the PWD Minister Muhammed Riyas, the Chief Minister and the other ministers are unlikely to attend the function.

The Public Works Department Kerala, headed by Minister Muhammed Riyas, serves as the nodal agency for national highway development in the state. The Kerala government has contributed around ₹5,500 crore towards the implementation of these projects. Despite this financial contribution and the department’s role as the nodal agency, the minister has not been included in the program.

Union ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurian, Members of Parliament Benny Behanan and Hibi Eden, and MLA Uma Thomas have been invited to the event. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the state president of BJP is also invited to the event despite any designation, contribution or involvement in the project.